Ethiopia pardons 304 prisoners

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The Ethiopian government has pardoned 304 detainees, including 289 convicted of terrorism charges, as Addis Ababa continues to foster national reconciliation in the country hit by unrest since 2015.

The announcement, made on Friday, marks the latest round of mass prisoner releases in Ethiopia as part of the government’s efforts to institute political reform, and affirm commitment to good governance following recent turbulent years.

Violence erupted in Ethiopia after Oromos, members of the country’s largest ethnic group, took to the streets to protest an urban development plan that would have seen the capital expand and swallow their villages. The demonstrations snowballed to other parts of the country with protesters objecting to what they perceived as political and economic disenfranchisement.

The political turmoil, which resulted in 600 deaths according to official figures, has since tapered off, but there are still sporadic flare-ups. The government has been rolling out measures to tamp down tensions and widen political space.

Since the swearing-in of new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on April 2, thousands of prisoners, including prominent opposition figures and activists, have been released. A six-month state of emergency, in place since February following the resignation of Hailemariam Desalegn as prime minister, was also lifted.

Local broadcaster Radio Fana quoted a statement by the country’s attorney general as saying that three Kenyans and nine death row inmates are part of those granted reprieve on Friday.

The decision to release the three Kenyans was part of a bilateral agreement between Ethiopia and Kenya to swap prisoners, but no details were given as to why or when they were jailed.

(With input from Xinhua)

(Top image: Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed (L) shakes hand with Uganda's President Yoweri Museveni at State House in Entebbe, June 8, 2018. /VCG Photo)