Chelenqo is a town in eastern Ethiopia located in the Oromia region a few km west of Harar.[1][2]

History

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The town is linked to the Middle Ages during the reign of the Makhzumi dynasty as engravings in the area date back to the 13th century.[3] Chelenqo is also part of an ancient bartering route in the region which consists of livestock vendors.[4]

Battle of Chelenqo

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In 1887 the Battle of Chelenqo took place between the Emirate of Harar and the Abyssinian state of Shewa following the latter's invasion.[5] Skeletal remains belonging to the fallen soldiers of Harar Amir Abdullahi II were visible in Chelenqo until recently.[6] In the neighboring Harari Regional State "the Chelenqo Martyrs" day is observed based on this conflict.[7]

French writer Hugues Le Roux upon visiting Chelenqo in the early 1900s, described it as possessing spectacular cornfields encircled by mountains.[8]

Protestors Gunned Down

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In 2018, sixteen peaceful Oromo protestors were gunned down by Ethiopian National Defense Force in Chelenqo which forced the Oromia president Lemma Megersa to criticize the federal governments actions.[9]

References

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  1. ^ Ficquet, Éloi. Ḥabeš Siyāḥatnāmesi: The Journey of al-Mu’ayyad al-‘Azm in Ethiopia (1904). Centre français des études éthiopiennes.
  2. ^ Mohammed, Asmea. Distribution and association of common leaf rust (Puccinia sorghi Schwein) and turcicum leaf blight [Exserohilum turcicum (Pass.)] of Maize (Zea mays L.) with biophysical factors in Eastern Ethiopia. Haramaya University.
  3. ^ GIANFRANCESCO, LUSINI. LINGUE DI CRISTIANI E LINGUE DI MUSULMANI D'ETIOPIA. EDIZIONI DI STORIA E LETTERATURA. p. 136.
  4. ^ Problemi attuali di scienza e di cultura quaderno. Accademia nazionale dei Lincei. p. 730.
  5. ^ Tibebu, Teshale. The Making of Modern Ethiopia 1896-1974. Red Sea Press. p. 43.
  6. ^ Chelenqo. Encyclopedia Aethiopica.
  7. ^ Fombad, Charles. Constitutional Identity and Constitutionalism in Africa. Oxford University Press. p. 128.
  8. ^ Lindahl, Bernhard. Local History of Ethiopia (PDF). Nordic Africa Institute. p. 9.
  9. ^ Ethiopia – Ethnic Violence Out of Control. Wiley-Blackwell. 2018.

9°23′53″N 41°33′39″E / 9.39806°N 41.56083°E / 9.39806; 41.56083