From Washington, influencing Ethiopia's politics
Clashes between police and protestors at Ethiopia's Irreecha festival on October 2 this year left more than 100 people drowned or crushed to death. Soon after, social media sites were abuzz with claims that a police helicopter had fired into the panicking crowds.
A helicopter had in fact been circling above the grounds. But it was dropping leaflets wishing participants a happy festival.
After the incident, overseas activists called for "five days of rage." During the following week, foreign-owned factories, government buildings and tourist lodges were attacked across the Oromo region. On October 9, the government declared a six-month state of emergency.
Members of the large Ethiopian diaspora in the US, who have long used the internet to try to influence politics at home, follow events in Ethiopia very closely.
Successive waves of emigration have formed a worldwide Ethiopian diaspora of around two million people. The largest communities are in the US, with estimates varying from 250,000 people to about one million.
http://www.dw.com/en/from-washington-influencing-ethiopias-politics/a-36524339