Addis Ababa Police announce temporary road closures for Irreechaa festival
Addis Ababa, October 3, 2024 (FBC) – The Addis Ababa Police Department has announced the closure of certain highways and roads to vehicular traffic in order to prevent congestion during the “Irreecha Hora Finfinne” festival.
The Irreecha festival, observed by the Oromo community in Ethiopia, is a thanksgiving event. This year’s celebrations are scheduled to take place this weekend in Addis Ababa city and Bishoftu town. A large number of people, including Abba Gedas, Hadhe Sinqes, and invited guests, are expected to attend the festival.
Accordingly the capital’s police department has stated that security agencies have completed their preparations and are working diligently to ensure that the festival is celebrated peacefully in the Ethiopian capital.
In particular, the Police have urged participants of the festival to cooperate with security forces at checkpoints for the sake of common safety. The capital’s police have called on festival-goers and residents of Addis Ababa to work closely together for a peaceful celebration of this year’s “Irreechaa” festival.
In that regard, the following highways and roads will be temporarily closed to vehicles from 4th October at 12:00 pm until the end of the “Irreechaa Hora Finfinne” festival in Addis Ababa.
The road leading from St. Urael Square to Meskel Square will be blocked at St. Urael Square. For vehicles coming from the direction of Bole to Meskel Square, the highway will be closed around Olympia roundabout and the Meskel Flower to Olympia route will be closed at Gazebo square. The Agona Cinema–Meskel Square road will be closed for heavy vehicles near Agona Cinema and for light vehicles around Tilahun square (on the 4th Ward). The road from Legehar traffic lights to Meskel Square will be closed at Legehar traffic light.
In addition, the route from Tele-crossing to the Stadium will be closed at the Tele-crossing area, and the road leading from Ras Hotel to the Stadium will be closed at Ras Hotel. Furthermore, the road leading from Harambe traffic light to Meskel Square and the Ambassador Cinema to Meskel Square road(s) will be closed at Harambe traffic light. Additionally, the road from Jupiter Hotel to the UN ECA Office will be blocked near the Bambis Sialkot building.
The Police have also indicated that many people from the surrounding areas of Sheger city will enter Addis Ababa starting from Friday to celebrate the festival. Additionally, the Police have warned against parking vehicles in the surrounding areas of the festival’s celebration site.
Note that Irreechaa Hora Harsade will also be celebrated at Bihoftu town of Oromia region on Sunday 6th October 2024.