THE AFRICAN COURIER. Reporting Africa and its Diaspora! The African Courier is an international magazine published in Germany to report on Africa and the Diaspora African experience. The first issue of the bimonthly magazine appeared on the newsstands on 15 February 1998. The African Courier is a communication forum for European-African political, economic and cultural exchanges, and a voice for Africa in Europe.
The United Kingdom and Germany have praised the Ethiopian government for releasing political prisoners, charging Addis Ababa to follow through with its promises on political reforms and opening up the democratic space.
Their comments came in the wake of the release of over 500 politician prisoners on Wednesday as promised by government earlier this month. Among those freed is Prof Merera Gudina, leader of the Oromo Federalist Congress (OFC), a political party representing the Oromo people. The organization is opposed to the ruling coalition Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). He has been described as Ethiopia’s “leading opposition politician”.
Both German and British embassies in Addis Ababa also stressed the need to open up the political space and allow people to participate in the governance process. The EPRDF has been under pressure to respect rights of political opposition, of journalists critical of the regime and rights activists.
“The German Embassy in Addis Ababa welcomes the release of 115 detainees, including Dr Merera Gudina, in Addis Ababa. We congratulate the Ethiopian government on this important step, which contributes to widening the political space in Ethiopia,” the German statement said.
“The Embassy encourages further steps to be taken, in order to give all political forces a voice in Ethiopia and to find a sustainable solution to the current tensions in the country.”
The United States has also officially commented on the release of politician prisoners and the promise to close a prison facility notorious for torture.
“We are encouraged by the Ethiopian Government’s decision to drop charges and pardon detainees, including political prisoners, as a tangible step towards its stated goal of widening political space for all Ethiopians,” the US government said in a statement.
Opposition parties and rights groups have been demanding for the release of all political prisoners in Ethiopia for years. Analysts believe that local and international pressure on Addis Ababa is bearing fruit as the government had always maintained that there were no political prisoners in the country.
There’re still many notable politicians and journalists in detention. Amnesty International is calling for the release of all prisoners of conscience and the implementation of wide-ranging political reforms, including rescinding draconian laws, to create space for the unfettered exercise of political rights in the country.
Adira Kallo
