The Office of Ethiopian Prime Minister says plans have been concluded to release political prisoners and shut an infamous prison in the capital, Addis Ababa, in a surprise move the government says aims to "foster national reconciliation". In an interview with AFP, the Ministry said all charges earlier preferred against political prisoners would be dropped while those already in detention would be pardoned.
"Politicians currently under prosecution and those previously sentenced will either have their cases annulled or be pardoned"
Apart from plans to pardon political prisoners, the government says it would also close the Maekelawi detention facility in Addis Ababa, which has been described as "one of the country's most notorious police stations".
Human Rights Watch had described the station as a place where detainees are tortured and abused by law enforcement agents.
"Police investigators at Maekelawi use coercive methods on detainees amounting to torture or other ill-treatment to extract confessions, statements, and other information from detainees,"
Maekelawi would now be used as a museum.
