Ethiopia to release imprisoned politicians, close camp
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s government says comments by the prime minister on Wednesday that appeared to refer to the planned release of political prisoners instead referred to imprisoned politicians.
The Associated Press and other news organizations interpreted the remark to mean a wider population of people in prison, including opposition figures and journalists, as alleged political prisoners. But the government steadfastly denies that the East African nation has political prisoners.
Prime Minster Hailemariam Desalegn had been speaking in Amharic to local journalists. He also announced plans to close the notorious Maekelawi prison camp in what he called an effort to “widen the democratic space for all.”
His comments came after months of sometimes deadly anti-government protests in Ethiopia, the most serious since the current government came to power in 1991. The demonstrations engulfed much of the restive Oromia and Amhara regions and spread into other parts of the country, leading to a months-long state of emergency that has since been lifted.