{
  "id": 1304302,
  "title": "Ethiopia: News - Coalition Says Abeshige Extrajudicial Killings 'Comparable to the Red Terror', Demands Investigation",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/16/ethiopia-news-coalition-says-abeshige-extrajudicial-killings",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-16T16:33:34.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "AllAfrica",
    "slug": "allafrica",
    "url": "https://allafrica.com/stories/202608160013.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Coalition for Ethiopian Unity, a five-party opposition political group, has condemned the extrajudicial killings of three young men in Abeshige Woreda, Central Ethiopia Regional State, comparing the events to the Red Terror era. The victims, Temesgen Getachew, Yitagesu Asegidew, and Gizaw Girmaye, were reportedly targeted on July 30 in Nacha Kulit Kebele after being accused of belonging to the Fano militia. Photographs showing the men tied, beaten, and shot have circulated widely on social media. The Coalition claims the killings were excessively brutal, even surpassing the scale of the Red Terror, which took place in the late 1970s when Ethiopia's Derg military junta carried out mass extrajudicial killings of civilians.\n\nThe Coalition's claims are based on photographs and eyewitness accounts, citing local sources. The group also points to the execution of Yitagesu Asegidew's brother in a similar manner in Hawassa and the arbitrary killing of Gizachew Girma, a respected young entrepreneur, in Darge Kebele about a month prior. Both Gizachew and Yitagesu Asegidew were reportedly forcibly removed from public transportation and later killed. The Coalition demands an independent, transparent investigation into the killings and calls for accountability for those responsible.\n\nThe Central Ethiopia Regional State Peace and Security Bureau has not explicitly acknowledged the killings or confirmed government involvement. Bureau Chief Temesgen Kassa stated that security forces had taken action against armed individuals who refused to surrender following government calls. He described the targeted individuals as \"bandits\" and alleged they were involved in killings, robbery, and extortion. Meanwhile, the bureau has denied the operations were targeted at specific ethnic communities, rejecting claims of discrimination.",
  "summary": "[Addis Standard] Addis Abeba -- The Coalition for Ethiopian Unity, a five-party opposition political coalition, has condemned the reported killing of three young men in Abeshige Woreda of Central Ethiopia Regional State, saying the killings were \"comparable to the Red Terror\" and demanding an independent investigation.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}