In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the army chief of staff and another top military official were killed Saturday by the chief’s bodyguard, in connection with a failed coup attempt against the northern regional government of Amhara. The governor of Amhara was also killed earlier on Saturday. Internet access was cut off following the news, and checkpoints were set up around the capital Addis Ababa.
Prime Minister Ahmed says the attacks were not motivated by ethnic tensions, although few details are known about the perpetrators. Ahmed came to power last year and made history by signing a peace agreement with neighboring Eritrea. Ethnic conflict, however, continues to plague the country, causing massive displacement. Ahmed survived a grenade attack at a rally a year ago.