May 24, 2025
Ethiopian Federal Police alleges the health professionals collaborated with forces who wanted to create turmoil in the country
Borkena
Toronto – Ethiopia’s Federal Police on Friday announced that it has arrested 47 health professionals. It accused them of exploiting health professionals’ demands “as a cover” to work with forces working to create “turmoil” in the country. However, it did not specify as to who these forces were.
The Federal police also called the strike health professionals are undertaking as “illegal.” Recent BBC Amharic report on the strike heighted a legal professionals view on the legality of the strike. According to the legal expert cited in the report, the health professionals did not violate the law of the country or international law by undertaking the strike.
Police also alleges that the arrested health professionals have “created chaos in the health sector and endangered the lives of patients.” Those arrested are “being investigated,” according to the disclosure from the Federal police. Thousands of health professionals across the country are taking part in the strike. It is unclear why police are alleging that the 47 health professionals have caused “chaos” to the health sector.
“Exploring health professionals’ salary and benefit demands as a cover, these suspects engaged in “illegal strikes” and incite others to strike endangering patients’ lives,” the Federal police allege.
Ethiopian local news sources have reported earlier this week that the number of health professionals arrested across the country is now more than 100. A social media page promoting the causes of health professionals reported this week, citing a report from Amnesty International, that the number of health professionals arrested in the capital Addis Ababa itself is more than 20.
In a statement released on Friday, Amnesty International has called for an immediate release of health professionals. Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on its part released a statement on Wednesday confirming the arrest of health professionals indicating that it has gathered information from many cities other than Addis Ababa. It called for the government to resolve the Health professionals demand through negotiation.
Ethiopian Health Professionals have been calling for the government for more than a month to address their grievances; demands related to livable salary and poor working conditions. They started a full strike as of Monday this week after the government failed to engage and rather resorted to intimidation and harassment. Through its State Minister, the Ethiopian government has announced that it will revoke the licenses of health professionals to practice in the country if they fail to return to work. Although there are health professionals who opted out from joining the movement, those who started the strike do not seem to back down in the face of government intimidation.
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