In Shashemene, a diverse and beautiful town located at the heart of the Oromia region, even school buildings were burned to the ground.The question now facing Ethiopia is whether this most recent recurrence of ethnic violence is going to hinder the country's long-awaited transition to democratic governance.Since his rise to power in 2018, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has sought to promote reconciliation, national unity, solidarity and social justice in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has returned to normal after weeks of ethnic violence and unrest triggered by the June 29 murder of the revered Oromo singer, Hachalu Hundessa. Our reporter says the stadium was not full as many residents in Ambo stayed at home amidst heavy security after days of violence.There are reports that mourners had tried to delay the funeral until the release of influential Oromo politician Jawar Mohammed.Dozens of people have been detained, including Mr Jawar, who was arrested after protesters tried to block Hachalu's body from leaving the capital on Tuesday.On Thursday, the media mogul, who has led calls for more rights for the Oromo who feel they been politically marginalised by previous governments, appeared in court in Addis Ababa.

Hachalu Hundessa - Ethiopia's murdered musician who sang for freedom Abiy Ahmed's reforms in Ethiopia lift the lid on ethnic tensions Choosing the first is to willingly aid them in our demise," the prime minister said.

In 2016 and 2017 there was a wave of demonstrations in defiance of the government The military has been deployed in the capital Within an hour of musician Hachalu Hundessa’s assassination, Ethiopians netizens hit social media with scattershot conspiracy theories, hate speech & disinformation campaigns — particularly on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. These are external links and will open in a new window Hachalu Hundessa death – Ethiopian singer Hachalu Hundessa died June 29, 2020 evening after he was assassinated in the capital Addis Ababa. His vocal opposition to the government's decision to postpone the election, coupled with the TPLF's apparent refusal to follow the federal government's guidance on the matter, raised concerns that the anti-Abiy stance of the two groups may eventually lead to renewed ethnic strife in the country.The violence that followed Hachalu's murder clearly demonstrated the threat this new-found Oromo-Tigrayan alliance poses to Ethiopia's democratic prospects. On the evening of Thursday, July 2, hundreds of people from the Oromo community took to the streets and shut down the westbound lanes of Interstate 94 in St. Paul. Editor’s note: This is a two-part analysis on Hachalu Hundessa, a popular Oromo musician whose murder incited ethnoreligious violence fueled by disinformation online. Read Part II here . Oromo political activist and Oromia Federalist Congress member Jawar Mohammed, for example, asserted in an op-ed in Addis Standard that Ethiopia will not have a legitimate government after September 30 - the day that should have marked the end of the current government's tenure.Jawar Mohammed has a lot of influence over Oromo youth. The funeral ceremony is being held in Ambo, a city at the forefront for Oromo self-rule The ruling coalition eventually replaced then-Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn with Mr Abiy.He has brought in a series of reforms, which have transformed what was considered a very oppressive state.However, long-standing ethnic tensions have boiled over into violence.Mr Abiy won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 primarily for making peace with long-time foe Eritrea, but his efforts in transforming Ethiopia were also recognised.The California senator accepts the vice-presidential nomination with an attack on the US president. Minnesota’s Oromo community is mourning Hachalu Hundessa and demanding justice for the musician and activist who was shot and killed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, Monday night. Back in April 2019, I myself The devastating events of the past month, however, revitalised concerns over the Abiy administration's ability to ensure the safety of Ethiopians and the stability of the nation.Nevertheless, Abiy can still deliver on his promises of democratisation and reconciliation as long as he stands strong against the ethno-nationalist demands of both the TPLF and his Oromo opponents. His case was adjourned for two weeks.He supported reformist Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, himself an Oromo, when he came to power in April 2018 but has since become an ardent critic.More arrests have been made in the capital, including that of prominent journalist and activist Eskinder Nega.On Wednesday, Mr Abiy warned that those behind Hachalu's death wanted to derail his reform programme.