Ethiopia declares national state of emergency

A state of emergency has been declared in Ethiopia after the resignation of Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn. 

Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation citing a decision by the Council of Ministers said in Addis Ababa yesterday that a state of emergency has been declared as of now. However, it was not immediately clear how long it would last. 

Hailemariam, who has sat at the helm of the government since 2012, announced on Thursday he would be stepping down as the



Prime Minister and head of the ruling Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front coalition.

He said he saw his resignation as vital in the bid to carry out reforms that would lead to sustainable peace and democracy.The government has been under pressure because of continuing street protests in the country.

In August 2017, Ethiopia lifted a 10-month state of emergency imposed after hundreds of people were killed in anti-government protests.