It’s a surprising turnaround for a government that has launched a sweeping crackdown on dissent, and has not previously admitted that it is even holding political prisoners. “Political prisoners that are facing prosecutions and are already under arrest will be released,” Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn said at a press conference, according to The Associated Press. The Defense minister said that more than 29,000 people were arrested during a 10-month state of emergency that ended last August, Reuters reported. Activists and rights groups are welcoming the move, but remain skeptical about whether the government will actually go through with it. They say that the detainees should never have been arrested and are being targeted for their political beliefs.

Source: Ethiopian News January 03, 2018 18:22 UTC