Two individuals who were celebrating Epiphany were shot dead, and several others were injured in a clash between followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church at Woybila Mariam and the Oromia police, as reported by Addis Standard and DW. The church is located on the outskirts of Addis Ababa in the town of Burayu within the Oromia special zone.
According to witnesses, the clash occurred when the Oromia police attempted to stop individuals in the Woybila Mariam procession who were carrying Ethiopian flags adorned with the church logo. The police used both rubber and live bullets, resulting in the immediate deaths of two people and claiming the life of one more person the following day. In the past, the Burayu police had been observed preventing people from displaying Ethiopian flag colors, but during the celebration, they even prohibited flags with the church symbol.
The security head of Burayu zone claims that some youths from Addis Ababa attempted to enter the town while carrying a flag that is prohibited by law. He added that these youths had entered the town prior to the procession and began throwing stones at security forces while attempting to seize their weapons.
Tensions have arisen during the Epiphany celebration over the past three years due to the controversy surrounding the flag.
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