Authorities Add Six Hotels to Shutdown Spree

Authorities have closed down six prominent hotels situated in the Haya Hulet and Bole areas of Addis Abeba. The establishments are the latest to join a long list of hotels, bars and restaurants, including Harmony and Kaleb hotels, that have been closed in recent weeks by woreda offices on accusations of playing inciting music and partaking in activities disparaging the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), among other things.

Aksum, Debre Damo, Holiday, Negest Saba, Diamond and Addissinia hotels are among the establishments that were closed last week over a variety of allegations, including violating COVID-19 protocols and partaking in other "illegal" activities.

"Our hotel was closed without prior notice or warning. We weren't given a reasonable justification for the closure," said Fekadu Abraham, general manager of Holiday Hotel, following the conclusion of a meeting held to mobilise funding for the Ethiopian National Defense Force, organised by the Ministry of Culture & Tourism at Capital Hotel on July 23, 2021. His hotel was closed on allegations of violating COVID-19 protocols.

During the same meeting, the Assistant Manager of Debre Damo Hotel, located in front of Golagul Tower on Haile Gebreselassie Street, also complained that the establishment had been closed by authorities from the Yeka District Woreda 07 Trade & Industry Bureau.

"We don't know what exactly we violated, though they told us it was closed because of breaches of rules," said the Assistant Manager.

In the Bole area alone, more than 90 hotels, bars, and restaurants have been closed thus far, according to Filimon Gashaw, head of Bole District Woreda 03 Trade Office.

"Some have already been opened while others are still waiting for decisions to be made," he told Fortune.

Diamond and Addissinia hotels are the latest to be closed in Bole District after being accused of funding the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).