The unforgettable memory of Etsegenet Berhe, one of the prominent local business people, dates back to the celebration of the Ethiopian Millennium 11 years ago. He was in Qobo town, northern Ethiopia, working on a new project he had planned in the area when he received a call from his close friend, Se’are Mekonnen (Gen), the now deceased Chief of Staff of the Ethiopian National Defence Force, was in Meqelle at that time.

Etsegenet and Se’are were born in the same town in the northern part of the country but did not develop their friendship until 1996; Etsegenet left to go abroad and Se’are joined a rebel group that fought against the Dergueregime.

In their conversation a decade and more ago, Etsegenet told Se’are that he was in Qobo for his new project. The next day Se’are surprised him by arriving in Qobo to inspire him and show his support.

“This is Se’are,” Etsegenet recalled. “He is always there for his friends and family.”

On June 22, 2019, Etsegenet heard the devastating news while he was on a family vacation in Meqelle, celebrating the end of the school year.

Se’are and his old friend, Ge’zai Abera (Maj. Gen), a retired army general, were shot dead inside Se’are’s residence in Bole District, behind Desalegn Hotel on Cape Verde Street, where they were chatting in the garden of the front yard.

Mesafint Tigabu, a young soldier and team leader of a four-member security detail assigned to protect the army chief of staff, allegedly shot dead both Ge’zai and Se’are.

“It was after 9:00pm when we heard a continuous firing from automatic weapons,” said a retired military member who is currently working as a security guard at one of the diplomatic residences near Se’are’s home. “The unoccupied buildings that are still under construction in the neighbourhood echoed the gunshots, scaring everyone around.”

No one dared to go outside to find out what was going on as everyone was apprehensive about the news that was filtering out of Bahir Dar just a few hours before, according to a security guard in the neighbourhood.

The incident in Bahir Dar, Amhara Regional State, involved the shooting of the region’s President, Ambachew Mekonnen (PhD), his aide Ezez Wasse, and the region’s Attorney General, Migbaru Kebede, who were in a meeting with four other officials. Ambachew and Ezez were killed instantly on the spot, while Migbaru died at Black Lion Hospital in Addis Abeba of his wounds two days later.

Both federal and regional officials have disclosed that Asamenew Tsegie (Bir Gen), head of the Amhara Regional State Security Bureau, allegedly orchestrated the assassinations of the regional officials. Asamenew was released about a year ago after serving 10 years in prison, convicted of plotting to oust the administration of former Prime Minister Meles Zenawi.

“I called a couple of fellow security guards in our neighbourhood, and they told me none of them ventured out to find out,” he said. “They were following the incident from behind closed gates just like me.”

Everything turned to tragedy after it became clear that Mesafint had allegedly assassinated the two Generals. He was also wounded during the ensuing gun battle with the other members of the security detail. One of the security details shot him in the leg before Mesafint shot himself in the neck in an apparent suicide attempt, according to people who are familiar with the incident. Police reported that Mesafint survived and that he is under medical treatment.

“After the gunfire stopped, we heard people in the compound moaning and calling out the names of the two Generals,” said the guard, “followed by cars coming and going in the area.”

The two Generals then were taken to Washington Hospital, located close to Se’are’s residence, but they were pronounced dead on arrival. Their bodies were taken to Tor Hailoch, the army hospital, and then sent to Meqelle where they were buried last Wednesday.

The government hosted a memorial in their honour at Millenium Hall, attended by President Sahle-work Zewde, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (PhD) and Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen, alongside government and military officials.

The next day, the Amhara Regional State organised a public funeral ceremony for the three regional officials who died in the afternoon attack that took place in Bahir Dar, the regional state capital.

“We were only done with one of the agenda items when the attackers burst into the meeting room and started firing,” said Lake Ayalew, who has now been appointed acting regional president, in an interview with the Amhara Mass Media Agency, the regional broadcaster. “Ambachew and Ezez were dead on the spot.”