Ethiopian officials have released 2,000 people detained during recent weeks of violent protests amid the nation’s current state of emergency. Siraj deferred the question, saying that an Ethiopian Inquiry Board is responsible for the information. Siraj said that violence directed at businesses and infrastructure had been quelled, with much of Ethiopian daily life restored to safety and stability. While the prisoner release seems a welcome step forward, human rights groups remain alarmed by provisions of the Ethiopian state of emergency that remain in force until April. The group calls on Ethiopia to honor its obligations under the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights, among other legal agreements to which it is a party that protect human rights despite any emergency declaration.

Source: Ethiopian News October 31, 2016 14:58 UTC