They are protesting against the tax increase, accusing the government of wanting to sell the site to foreign investors.
Hundreds of traders at Merkato, Africa’s largest open-air market, went on strike,
causing significant disruption in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.
Some traders told APA on Saturday that the strike was a protest against what they called “tax hikes.” continues » which they face.
The strike has lasted four consecutive days, and businesses are closing their doors.
Some of their grievances relate in particular to tax increases implemented to finance projects launched without consulting residents or the business community.
According to the government, these projects concern the development of the corridor and the banks of the river.
But many businessmen believe the government intends to sell the area to investors from the Gulf region and recalled previous cases of privatization when the administration faced financial difficulties.
According to some traders, the strike was due to rumors and concerns that the government was planning to demolish parts of the area as part of a corridor development project, a project that has already displaced hundreds of thousands of people. residents of Addis Ababa.
They added that two fires in one month in the area, one of which completely destroyed a shopping center, further alarmed the local business community.
Meanwhile, APA reports that the strike is spreading to neighboring areas such as Awutobes Tera, Sebategna, Gojam Berenda and Telkehaymanot, where businesses are already closing.
And in an apparent attempt to ease tensions, the Addis Ababa city administration announced Thursday that it had donated 20 million Ethiopian birr to businesses destroyed by the fire.
However, these government efforts have not convinced business owners to reopen their stores over the past three days and residents of Sheger town, a ring of towns surrounding Addis Ababa, have been affected by the strike.
MG/gik/fss/ac/APA
