All members of the police force of Addis Ababa would be moved out of the city to Hurso Camp, about 400 km east of Addis Ababa and in Harar, for what the government dubs “further training” but political analysts see as a punitive measure agains the police.

Eventhough there are police training camps not far from the capital, observers are unclear why a far military training camp was chosen as a police training site. One of the reasons for the banishment could be the recent rise of tension between Somalia and the Meles Zenawi regime which may need to use the police force as a back-up force in the flare-up of armed conflict with Mogadishu.

The banishment order would be carried out in two phases, the source said. “Recent police recruitment in far-flung areas of the country was to replace those who were leaving Addis forcefully.”

Many police officers are expected to quit their jobs than leave for Hurso on a clearly punitive mission.