UPDATE - Ethiopia: Head engineer of $4.8B dam project found dead

UPDATES WITH COMMENTS FROM POLICE COMMISSIONER

By Addis Getachew

ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopia (AA) - The project manager of the $4.8 billion Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam project, a hydroelectric dam on the Nile, has been shot dead, the police commissioner said on Thursday.

The death of the project manager of the $4.8 billion Ethiopian Grand Renaissance Dam project, a hydroelectric dam on the Nile, set off suspicions and protests.

Whether it was a suicide or an assassination was yet to be determines, Zeynu Jemal said. “He died of a gunshot just under his left ear and a pistol was found near his right hand in the car.”

The body of Bekele is undergoing autopsy at the St. Paul Hospital.

Forensic teams are investigating the site where engineer Simegnew Bekele died, locally known as Meskel Square in central Addis Ababa, Ethiopia’s capital.

Bekele had been project manager for the dam since its construction began in 2011 and he had led two other big hydro dam projects Gibe II and Gibe III, previously.

Hundreds of protestors angry at the engineers’ death, which many suspect to be a murder, gathered in front on State Television ETV calling for justice.

“The people should wait for police investigation to complete before making any speculation and hysteria,” Jemal said.

At the scene, apparent bloodstains were visible inside the car, where Bekele was found in the driver’s seat.

The news brought shock, with many Ethiopians mourning his death, and social media full of comments and speculation.

Ethiopian President Mulatu Teshome made a statement calling the engineer a hero.