Protesters in Ethiopia, angered about the death a popular singer, have pulled down a statue of a royal prince – Ras Makonnen Wolde Mikael – who was the father of Haile Selassie, Ethiopia’s last emperor.
The statue in the eastern city of Harar shows Ras Makonnen, an important military figure and former governor of Harar province in the 19th Century under then-Emperor Menelik II, sitting on a horse.
Photos have been shared on Facebook of the statue being dragged down from its pedestal.
Protests have broken out in several places after musician Hachalu Hundessa was shot dead on the outskirts of the capital, Addis Ababa, on Monday evening.
He was well known for his political songs and in an interview last week, Hachalu was critical of the country’s old feudal leaders.
Referring to a statue in Addis Ababa of Menelik II, he told local TV station Oromia Media Network (OMN) said that people should remember that all the horses seen mounted by old rulers leaders belonged to the people.
Source: BBC
