Ethiopia to release 4,000 prisoners due to Covid-19

The Ethiopian government has announced its plan to release more than 4,000 prisoners early, as the country starts to get to grips with the coronavirus pandemic.

According to the attorney general, those who committed minor offences, women and children, will be among those freed.

Foreign nationals charged with smuggling and drug trafficking offences will be extradited to their countries of origin.

One of the most high-profile prisoners to be released is journalist Fekadu Mahtemework, a magazine editor who was convicted of tax evasion in absentia, prior to the election of Prime Minister Abiy.

At the start of Abiy’s premiership in 2018, thousands of political prisoners were released, prompting the journalist to return to Ethiopia.

However, the charges against him were not dropped, and he was sentenced to seven years last October.

The government has announced further measures in its battle against the coronavirus.

As of Wednesday, all government employees are to work from home, and all land borders will be closed.

Additionally, anyone entering the country will be quarantined for 14 days upon arrival in one of eight pre-selected hotels.

Ethiopian citizens who cannot afford to pay for the hotel will have their expenses covered by the government.

According to a statement released by the Ethiopian Public Health Institute, more than 400 people have already begun this period of quarantine.

The country has so far confirmed 14 positive cases of the coronavirus.

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