Ethiopia PM hits out at torture, promotes reform plan

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New Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday described past torture by the East African country's security services as "our act of terrorism" as he championed his reform agenda in parliament.

The BBC reported that Ahmed, who sacked the country's military and intelligence chiefs as well as the national security adviser earlier this month, told the House of People's Representatives: "Does the constitution say anyone who was sentenced by a court can be tortured, put in a dark room? It doesn't. Torturing, putting people in dark rooms, is our act of terrorism."

Ahmed was speaking in parliament after unleashing a slew of reforms during his first months in office, including ending Ethiopia's border dispute with Eritrea and opening areas of the economy to foreign investment. He announced that key state-run industries -- among them Ethiopian Airlines and Ethio Telecom -- would be opened up to foreign and private investors.

Ethio Telecom, Ethiopia's only Internet and telephone provider, will be opened to foreign and private investment under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's reforms. /VCG Photo

Ethiopia's economy has expanded at one of the fastest rates in Africa, but a shortage of foreign currency is seen as threatening that growth. The International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects growth of 10.9 percent in 2017 to fall to 8.5 percent this year.

Ahmed added that the government's recent reconciliation efforts have improved the security environment in Africa's second populous nation. Xinhua reported that he said the nation "was at a cross road as the worsening and formidable peace and security challenges exacerbated earlier this year, eventually leading into a brink of disintegration."

The prime minister added that instability, which forced the country to impose states of emergency twice since the second half of 2016, had created havoc among Ethiopians, impeding their constitutional rights and challenging their well-being.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. /VCG Photo

Ahmed's premiership started in April amid recurrent unrest and mass anti-government demonstrations in parts of the country, particularly in Ethiopia's largest Oromia regional state where Ahmed has strong support.

"Measures that were taken to bring back the country's stability following the recent government transition have helped to eliminate the existed misunderstanding and negative thinking among Ethiopians," Ahmed told the Ethiopian parliament's lower house.

The premier's comments came amid rioting in Ethiopia's southern regional capital city of Hawassa, where Xinhua reported at least 10 people have died. Ahmed is due to travel to the affected city this week.

(With inputs from agencies)

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