Ethiopia’s Army chief and a top local leader have been shot dead
during an attempt to overthrow a regional government in northern
Ethiopia, underscoring political instability in the country as Prime
Minister Abiy Ahmed tries to push through reforms.

The latest unrest in the Horn of Africa nation flared on Saturday
afternoon in Amhara, one of nine autonomous regions, when a hit squad
attacked a meeting of top officials.

Spokeswoman Billene Seyoum told journalists that the Amhara coup
attempt was led by local security Chief Asaminew Tsige, and resulted
in state president Ambachew Mekonnen and his advisor being shot.

She said that the men were gravely injured in the attack and later
died of their wounds adding that the regional attorney general had
been seriously wounded.