Ethiopian authorities release 300 political prisoners following government-administered rehabilitation training and formal pardon agreements, while 30 detainees remain in custody after refusing to sign
By Staff Writer
(Nairobi, Kenya) — Ethiopian authorities released 300 political prisoners detained in connection with the conflict in the Amhara region on Ethiopian New Year’s Eve, following their completion of government-administered “rehabilitation training” and the signing of formal pardon documents. The released group includes high-profile opposition figures and prominent political leaders such as former Member of Parliament Christian Tadele, Dr. Kassa Teshager, Dr. Chane Kebede, Maereg Biyabeyn, and Kefale Esubalew. They were charged with “terrorism.”
The released detainees completed, it was said, an intensive rehabilitation program focused on state security coordination, conflict resolution, and government peace initiatives. The training modules were conducted by senior security and civilian leadership, alongside officials from the Ministry of Peace and the Ministry of Justice. Training sessions also included captured combatants previously accused of carrying out attacks against civilian populations in the West Wollega zone, including Guliso District and Gawa Qanqa, since 2020/21.
The release framework followed a process facilitated under Ethiopian Human Rights Commissioner Birhanu Adelo, wherein detainees were requested to sign formal pardon pledges acknowledging responsibility for human and material damage during the conflict, renouncing armed opposition groups including Fano forces, and committing to uphold state security.
The amnesty process created a structural division among political detainees, separating those who accepted the pardon terms from those who refused to sign the confession documents or participate in the government rehabilitation modules.
At least 30 political figures, opposition politicians, and prominent journalists who refused to sign the pardon pledge or undergo rehabilitation remain in state custody. The group of non-signing detainees includes opposition politicians Yohannes Buayalew, Dr. Wondwossen Assefa, Dr. Sisay Awgichew, and Dr. Tewodros Hailemariam, as well as media workers Meskerem Abera, Genet Asmamaw, Gobez Sisay, Dawit Begashaw, and Abay Zewdu. Authorities confirmed that non-signing detainees will remain in detention as their legal cases continue through standard judicial channels without conditional presidential pardon releases.
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