ESAT News (June 15, 2018) Another 304 political prisoners were released today and all but 15 had been charged with “terrorism” at the peak of anti government protests two years ago. Nine were sentenced to death and three are foreigners. Prominent among the released were Abebe Kassie who was tortured and neutered in custody by TPLF interrogators. A statement by ...

ESAT News (May 28, 2018) Political prisoners at Ethiopia’s notorious Qillinto prison went on hunger strike today on the occasion of May 28, a day the ruling EPRDF took power in Addis Ababa. The prisoners say the day has brought tyranny and repression to Ethiopians and hence they said they wanted to mark it with hunger strike. According to the ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 5, 2018) Journalists, bloggers and politicians were released today eleven days after they were rounded up and detained as they were holding a private get together in Addis Ababa. Some of the detainees were rearrested on March 25th, few weeks after they were released following years of imprisonment. They include award winning journalists Eskinder ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 15, 2018) In a televised address to the nation, Ethiopia’s Prime Minister, Hailemariam Desalegn, said he has submitted his resignation to the Parliament and his party, the ruling EPRDF. Desalegn said he will stay in office till the party and the Parliament accept his resignation and elect his replacement. He said he believes his ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 14, 2018) A number of political prisoners were freed today and were welcomed at the gates of Ethiopia’s notorious jails by thousands of people, a scene that is uncommon in a country that holds unarguably the highest number of prisoners of conscience anywhere. Thousands of people have gathered at the gates of Kaliti and ...

By Engidu Woldie ESAT News (February 9, 2018) Prison authorities have demanded that Eskinder Nega and Andualem Arage, two prominent prisoners among the hundreds who were “pardoned’ yesterday by the regime, to sign a document saying they were jailed because they were members of Patriotic Ginbot 7, an opposition group based abroad. Sources say the prisoners of conscience have refused ...

ESAT News (January 18, 2018) Residents of several towns who came out to escort the Ark of the Covenant and celebrate the eve of the annual Epiphany have chanted anti-TPLF slogans calling for the removal of the regime. In Gondar, Woldia, Nekempte and Ambo protesters ignored the presence of snipers and denounced the regime. Ethiopian Orthodox celebration of Epiphany (Timkat ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (January 17, 2018) A day after spokesperson for the Ethiopian regime, Negeri Lencho, says the release of a prominent opposition leader would be decided after two months, Merera Gudina, along with over a hundred other prisoners of conscience, has been freed today after fourteen months of detention. A number of other leading opposition figures and ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (January 15, 2018) Hundreds of political prisoners would be freed as early as Wednesday as charges were dropped against 528 prisoners, media affiliated with the regime in Addis Ababa reported on Monday. Announcing the release, the prosecutor general of the regime, Getachew Ambaye, however insist the country is not holding political prisoners, echoing the statement ...

ESAT News (January 11, 2018) Ethiopian courts, seen by many as instruments of the oppressive regime, have continued handing down prison terms to dissidents who insist terrorism charges brought against them were politically motivated. A court in Addis Ababa today sentenced thirty-three defendants to prison terms ranging from 15 to 18 years for allegedly being members and supporters of an ...