The Ethiopian police and the prosecutor’s office did not respond to questions from Reuters on the reasons for Mr. Kumerra’s arrest and subsequent release. Mr. Kumerra, 38, has worked for Reuters for a decade. His family said they were preparing a special meal and looking forward to having him home for Christmas, which many Ethiopian Christians will celebrate on Thursday. “We are so relieved that Kumerra has been released and would like to thank everyone who has supported us during this difficult time,” the family said in a statement. Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who was awarded a Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, has overseen sweeping reforms since taking office in 2018, including a lift on the ban of more than 250 media outlets and the release of dozens of journalists.

Source: Ethiopian News January 05, 2021 19:30 UTC