Ethiopia Announces Prison Pardon For High-Profile Politicians

The Ethiopian Government has announced its decision to pardon and release from prison, some of the country’s high-profile politicians.

The announcement came on on Friday after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issued a statement calling for a national reconciliation.

The Ethiopian Broadcasting Corporation (EBC), disclosed that Jawar and Eskinder Nega, would be granted amnesty. The two men were detained last year over the killing of an artist.

Eskinder is the leader of the Balderas political party, while Jawar is of the Oromo Federalist Congress party.

The Ethiopian Ministry of Justice said the amnesty for Jawar and Nega was granted to make the upcoming national dialogue successful and inclusive. The national dialogue was approved by the Ethiopian lawmakers to bring negotiations to end the war which has plagued the country.

The state broadcaster also named other senior officials from the Tigray People’s Liberation Party to be granted amnesty. The men were arrested in 2020 after a war erupted between the Tigray forces and Ethiopian forces.

Aljazeera claimed Friday’s announcement came a day after the United States said its outgoing special envoy for Africa, Jeffrey Feltman, met with Ethiopian Prime Minister to negotiate end to the war.