Ethiopia promises to free all of its political prisoners, close notorious jail
![Hailemariam Desalegn.](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/ec7v43eaDCFSVRsSZfbfKS-415-80.jpg)
Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced Wednesday that the country plans on freeing and pardoning all political prisoners, in an attempt to "foster national reconciliation."
Ethiopia has never publicly admitted to having any political prisoners, NPR reports. Desalegn said those who are already under arrest and facing prosecution will be released, and the "notorious prison cell that was traditionally called Maekelawi will be closed down and turned into a museum." The detention center "essentially functioned as a torture chamber," Amnesty International's Fisseha Tekle told NPR, "used by the Ethiopian authorities to brutally interrogate anybody who dares to dissent including peaceful protestors, journalists, and opposition figures."
Since 2015, protesters have been holding demonstrations against government development plans near the capital of Addis Ababa and corruption. Hundreds have been killed and at least 29,000 people were arrested during a 10-month period last year. Activists say are heartened by the government's announcement, but are waiting to see if they actually go through with releasing the prisoners.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Catherine Garcia is night editor for TheWeek.com. Her writing and reporting has appeared in Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, The New York Times, The Book of Jezebel, and other publications. A Southern California native, Catherine is a graduate of the University of Redlands and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
-
Magazine solutions - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
Magazine printables - August 2, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - August 2, 2024
By The Week Staff Published
-
'In a normal country, their activities wouldn't even be crimes'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published