Ethiopia Releases 7 Oromo Liberation Front Prisoners

 The Voice of America published on 5 September 2024 an article titled "Ethiopia Releases Opposition Politicians from Prison" by Tsehay Damtew.

Ethiopia released this week 7 Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) members who have been in prison since 2020.   The United States welcomed the release of the OLF prisoners.

White House Statement on Biden/Abiy Phone Conversation

 The While House published on 10 January 2022 a statement on President Biden's phone call with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed concerning the conflict in Ethiopia.  

The phone call dealt with peace and reconciliation in Ethiopia, the recent air strike in Tigray Region, humanitarian access across Ethiopia, human rights, a cease fire, and the strengthening of US-Ethiopian relations.

Are Peace Talks for Real in Ethiopia?

 Aljazeera posted on 8 January 2021 a 25-minute podcast titled "Does Ethiopia's PM Want a Peaceful End to the Tigray War" with Awol Allo, Keele University, Kjetil Tronvoll, Oslo New University College, and Adem Kassie Abebe, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.

The panelists were skeptical whether Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's recent release of political prisoners and talk of national dialogue are serious steps towards peace.

Ethiopia Grants Amnesty to High Profile Political Detainees

 The Associated Press published on 7 January 2022 an article titled "Ethiopia Grants Amnesty to High-profile Political Detainees."

Ethiopia announced on 7 January that it had granted amnesty to opposition figures Jawar Mohammed and Eskinder Nega.  The government said several senior TPLF officials would also be released soon, taking into account their age and health condition.  This development gives some hope that a national political dialogue could follow.    

Controversial Proposal for Managing Ethiopia

 Ethiopia Insight posted on 19 April 2021 a commentary titled "Nine Point Plan to Haul Ethiopia Out of Its Quagmire" by an anonymous author.

The proposal includes the postponement of Ethiopia's election and install a technocratic government for up to three years. Assimilate all regional militia under the ENDF.  Allow an international peacekeeping mission to establish order in the country.

Ethnic Conflict in Ethiopia

Aljazeera's Inside Story did a half hour program on Ethiopia on 4 July 2020 titled "Can Ethiopia Bridge Its Ethnic Divide?"

The panelists were Laetitia Bader, Human Rights Watch, Awol Allo, Keele University in the UK, and myself. 

Ethiopia's Power, Security and Democracy Dilemma

The Institute for Security Studies published on 15 July 2019 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Power, Security and Democracy Dilemma" by Semir Yusuf.

The author concluded that political change has come rapidly in Ethiopia, raising expectations that the country is finally on the road to democracy. The challenge is Ethiopia's legacy of a strong state that is currently perceived as fragile and unwilling to restore security and the rule of law.

Ethiopia to Release Some Political Prisoners

The Washington Post published on 3 January 2018 an article titled "Ethiopia Plans To Release Some Imprisoned Politicians in Bid for National Dialogue" by Paul Schemm.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn announced on 3 January that some members of political parties under prosecution will be released and that those convicted will be pardoned in an effort to enhance the national political dialogue. This is a step in the right direction, although the devil remains in the details.