Hundreds of Eritrean exiles rallied in neighboring Ethiopia Wednesday to demand the ouster of what they call Eritrea’s repressive government.
More than 600 Eritreans gathered in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa, wearing hats printed with the word “Enough” to show they want no more of Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki’s 18-year rule.
Organizers say other Eritrean exiles held similar rallies in at least four refugee camps in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray and Afar regions, which border Eritrea.
Some protesters called for an end to the Eritrean government’s policy of forcibly conscripting citizens into military service. Others appealed to the international community to impose sanctions on Asmara.
Ethiopia and Eritrea fought a border war from 1998 to 2000 and their relations remain hostile. About 60,000 Eritrean refugees live in Ethiopia, whose government approved Wednesday’s rallies.
Rally organizer Kibrom Sibhatu says his Eritrean Urban Refugees Association wants to bring down Mr. Afwerki’s government through peaceful protests inspired by other recent uprisings against autocratic rulers in the Middle East.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Meles Zenawi also faces the prospect of protests against his government in the coming weeks, organized by Ethiopian activists who see him as authoritarian.
Next month marks the 20th anniversary of the coup that brought Mr. Meles’ Tigrayan Marxist rebel group to power.
