Ethiopia pardons several members of opposition parties
The government of Ethiopia dropped charges against some members of opposition political parties.
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Ethiopia PM Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa (AFP)
In a bid to promote national dialogue and unity, the Ethiopian government stated Friday that it will pardon and free a number of detained political figures, including members of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).
The government communications service said in a statement: “Its purpose is to pave the way for a lasting solution to Ethiopia's problems in a peaceful, non-violent way."
It named numerous key members of the TPLF, which have been engaged in a deadly conflict with government forces in northern Ethiopia since November 2020, as well as major Oromo and Amhara ethnic groups.
It was unclear how many of those given amnesties have been released.
The Balderas for Genuine Democracy, on the other hand, had already proclaimed the release of its founder Eskinder Nega, a prominent Amhara opposition member who had been detained by numerous Ethiopian regimes.
The announcement came after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently issued a statement calling for "national reconciliation."
Jawar Mohammed, a media mogul turned opposition politician from the Oromo Federalist Congress and a former supporter of the prime minister was also named.
Others include TPLF figures Sibhat Nega -- a founder of the party -- Kidusan Nega, Abay Woldu, Abadi Zemu (also a former ambassador to Sudan), and Mulu Gebregzabher.
UN hails the release of opposition members
On his account, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres hailed the release of opposition members in Ethiopia and urged the parties to build on this positive step by agreeing to a long-term truce.
He also expressed his hope for real progress in humanitarian access to all areas of Ethiopia affected by the fighting following his last contact with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
