Residents and opposition officials say 90 protesters were shot dead by security forces over the weekend. On Wednesday, Zeid Ra’ad Al Hussein (U.N. human rights High Commissioner) urged the Ethiopian government to grant international observers access to these agitated regions. While discussing with Ethiopian authorities he cited allegations of excessive use of force requiring investigation in the regions of Oromiya and Amhara.

For months now Oromiya has experience unrest over the allocation of farmland surrounding the capital to be used for  development. Despite the scheme being scrapped in January, continued detention of demonstrators spurred more protests as observed over the weekend. Demands for the release of opposition politicians were made and anti-government chants filled the air. As for the state-run Ethiopian News Agency, the claim that the protests had been quelled with no casualties.