It's been five months since Ethiopia declared a state of emergency in response to widespread protests and unrest, and there are no signs indicating when it might end. Most have been charged under the Ethiopia's anti-terrorism law, which is often used to stifle dissent and arrest journalists. “As of now, the state of emergency has accomplished its goal," said Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn, speaking to reporters in January. As long as we have ensured that, the state of emergency can be lifted anytime,” Desalegn said, adding that officials evaluate the state of emergency on a regular basis to determine whether it is still needed. “The state of emergency didn't play an important role in maintaining or reestablishing law and order in Ethiopia,” said Lefort.

Source: Ethiopian News March 10, 2017 20:19 UTC