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| FILE – Supporters of Bekele Gerba, secretary general of the Oromo Federalist Congress, celebrate Gerba’s release from prison, in Adama, Oromia Region, Ethiopia, Feb. 14, 2018. |
Ethiopia has released more than 1,500 prisoners in its eastern Somali region, government officials said on social media, days after the government declared a state of emergency to try to tamp down unrest in Africaโs second most populous nation.
โOn Wednesday, over 1,500 prisoners were released following a pardon by President Abdi Mohammed Omer,โ the Somali Regionโs communications bureau said on Facebook late on Wednesday, referring to the regional president.
โThe inmates had been jailed on charges that include anti-peace activities,โ it added, without giving details.
Ethiopia has already released more than 6,000 prisoners since January, including some high-profile journalists and opposition leaders. They were charged with a variety of offences, including terrorism.
Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn said the releases were designed to increase โpolitical spaceโ in Ethiopia following anti-government protests that began in 2015.
Hundreds of people were killed during two years of protests that convulsed the countryโs two most populous provinces, whose ethnic Oromo and Amharic communities complain they are under-represented in the countryโs corridors of power.
Fridayโs declaration of a six-month-long state of emergency followed Hailemariamโs surprise resignation on Thursday. He remains in office, overseeing the regionโs biggest economy, until a new prime minister is appointed.
The government previously imposed a state of emergency in October 2016, which was lifted in August 2017. During that time, curfews were in place, movement was restricted and about 29,000 people were detained. Itโs unclear how many remain in prison.
