Oromo Community Demands An End To Foreign Aid
For weeks now, civil unrest has battered parts of Ethiopia’s ethnic state of Oromia. Monday, the Oromo community in Sioux Falls protested America’s involvement in aiding the nation by protesting in front of Senator Mike Rounds' office.
"Over 30 students died and there’s more than 500 in prisons," said protester, Muzayan Kubsa.
Kubsa was one of dozens of Oromo protesters demanding that federal legislators stop aiding the Ethiopian government.
"We are taxpayers and the U.S. is supporting the Ethiopian government.”
A government that the Oromo community of Sioux Falls says has inappropriately used funds by purchasing weaponry and using them against Oromo students.
"Oromo students back home they are protesting against the expansion of Addis Ababa,” said Kubsa, “the government is just responding with bullets."
Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, has wanted to expand its boarders into the ethnic nation of Oromia for years. But after countless atrocities, the people there have had enough.
"There have been past two weeks there's 8-year-old students being shot and killed," said protester, Godi Boku.
In 2013 the U.S. gave close to $4-million to the Ethiopian government for educational assistance and social responsibilities, but for Kubsa, he doesn't see the money going to that.
“Instead of that, they are using it and buying weapons and killing the innocent students and farmers."
An aid from Rounds' office accepted their letter to the senator. A gesture they feel is a step in the right direction.
“They are voiceless,” said Kubsa, “we are supporting them."
We contacted Sen. Rounds for comment, but due to his schedule he was unable to provide one. This is one of many protests taking place around the world including in New York, Los Angeles and London.
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