By ONM-ABO | April 3, 2025
Government employees in Deedo district of Jimma Zone are facing mounting pressure and workplace intimidation, as regime cadres reportedly threaten to dismiss workers who are not registered members of the ruling Prosperity Party (PP). Reports from the district indicate a growing climate of fear, with employees being targeted based on perceived political affiliations.
According to sources, government offices have become arenas for political persecution, with workers turning against each other under pressure. Fantahun Ambawu, an employee in the district agriculture office, is accused of orchestrating false allegations against Oromo nationalists. His alleged actions, driven by ethnic bias, have led to the dismissal of several employees on claims that they support the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
One of the primary victims of this purge is Rashid Abba Gojjam, a coordinator within the agriculture office’s extension process. Rashid was suspended last week after being accused of harboring OLA sympathies—charges that colleagues describe as baseless. The situation escalated on April 1, when he was summoned to a leadership meeting and ordered to relocate to Dilbii, a remote rural village bordering the Southern region. According to sources, he was given no choice in the matter and was warned of severe consequences if he refused.
Local employees describe an atmosphere of coercion, where refusing to align with the ruling party puts careers and livelihoods at risk. While the Ethiopian government claims to be enforcing rule of law, critics argue that these actions are part of a broader campaign to silence dissent and maintain political control.
Human rights observers are calling for immediate intervention to protect workers from political persecution and to ensure that government employment is not weaponized as a tool for repression.
