Ethiopian Federal Police conducting intensive training for the upcoming election

By Dereje Berhanu

As the nation gets read to hold national elections the Federal Police is under rigorous training and preparation. The federal police are undertaking the training at different camps specially in controlling mass demonstrations using tear gas.

Kolfe Police Training Camp is one of the police training camp in Addis Ababa. Anonymous residents and public institution workers near the camp said “since the pas few days, tear gas has been gushing from the police training compound affecting people”.

According to sources, police usually undertake physical training but training using tear gas in a camp situated in the middle of the town was strange for them. The government has promised to conduct fair, free, peaceful and credible election and problems like that of post 2005 election won’t happen this time.

“It is not just a wish when government promises to make the coming election free, fair and peaceful, the government has conducted adequate preparation to keep the peace during the election” told SSI Mr. Shimeles Kemal of the Government Communication office.

The Ethiopian government has repeatedly announced that they have taken enough lessons from the 2005 post election violence. The government is working to strengthen the capacity of its security personnel.



During the past few weeks’ surveillance cameras have been installed in Addis Ababa’s diplomatic roads aimed to monitor any violence according to observers. The information Network Security Agency (INSA) under contract with the federal Police Commission has carried out the installation of the surveillance system.

In 2005 post-election phase was spoiled by fallout that claimed the life of about 200 people.

(SSI)