In an investigation that took five months, the Attorney General held Asamnew Tsige (B.Gen) responsible for the assassination of Seare Mekonnen (Gen.), former army chief of staff, and his friend, Ge'zai Abera, a retired army general.

In a press briefing he gave on November 13, 2019, Berhanu Tsegaye also alleged that a 110-team clandestine cell was established to carry out the unsuccessful coup in the Amhara Regional State on June 22, 2019, that took the life of Ambachew Mekonnen (PhD).

“The real motive behind the coup attempt was to control power by removing the regional government and the delegates in charge of it,” said Birhanu. “The attempt coordinated by Asamnew involved many individuals from different parts of the country.”

Preparation for the coup allegedly started in May by Asaminew, who recruited former military members fired for disciplinary issues and activists in the Amahara Regional State.

Ambachew, who had replaced Gedu Andargachew in March, was in a meeting in Bahir Dar when he, his aide Ezez Wasse and Attorney General Migbaru Kebede were shot around 5:00pm. While the former two died instantly, Migbaru died of his wounds two days later at Black Lion Hospital.

On the same day, Seare and Ge’zai were assassinated in the former’s residence in Addis Abeba's Bole District around 9:00pm. They were allegedly shot by Mesafint Tigabu, a young soldier and team leader of a four-member security detail assigned to protect the army chief of staff.

After being wounded by other security officials in an exchange of fire in Seare’s residence, the wounded Mesafinit was taken to an undisclosed hospital for medical treatment, according to government sources.

“During the investigation, Mesafint disclosed that he went to Gonder invited by Asaminew and that he was promised money as a reward if he killed the army chief of staff, Seare, and his deputy Birhanu Jula (Gen),” claimed the Attorney General, who added that the attack on the chief of staff was perpetrated with the intention of weakening the federal military. “He was also promised assurances of being placed in a high position in government once they were in control of power.”