Ethiopian military chief, regional president killed in failed coup attempt

Ethiopia's government has reportedly quelled a coup, but not before the military's chief of staff and a regional president were killed in separate attacks.

General Seare Mekonnen, whom Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed named head of the military last year, was reportedly killed — along with another general, Gezai Abera — at his residence in Addis Ababa by his bodyguard, who is now in custody. Meanwhile, the president of the Amhara region, Ambachew Mekonnen, a key ally of the prime minister, was killed in his office along with his senior adviser, Ezez Wasie. The attacks are believed to be linked.

The prime minister's office accused Brigadier-General Asaminew Tsige, a "renegade" whom Ahmed recently pardoned, of orchestrating the coup attempt. It is not known if he has been arrested, though many others suspected to be involved in the plot have been apprehended.

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Abiy has experienced several challenges since taking over as prime minister and it is clear there is still significant opposition to his leadership within the military, BBC reports. For example, the young, reform-minded leader who reached a surprise peace agreement with Ethiopia's bitter rival, Eritrea, had only been in office for months last June when someone attempted to hurl a grenade at him, causing a deadly explosion at a massive rally in support of Abiy's reforms.