(OPride)—On Wednesday, January 3, 2018, leaders of the ruling Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) made a surprise announcement pledging to release political prisoners and close down the notorious Maekelawi prison. “A decision has been reached to drop charges and pardon imprisoned politicians and other individuals after proper investigation in accordance with appropriate laws,” Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn told reporters. It will help build “better national consensus and expand democratic freedoms,” he added. The decision is apparently part of an agreement EPRDF member parties reached at the end their closed meeting. Ethiopia pledges to “drop charges and pardon imprisoned politicians”

Source: Ethiopian News January 03, 2018 16:46 UTC