Kenya journalist freed from detention in Ethiopia

By Emmanuel Igunza

Kenyan journalist Yassin Juma has been released from detention in Ethiopia - about a week after his lawyer said he had contracted coronavirus in prison.

He has been moved to a state-run isolation facility for treatment, and will be allowed to travel back to Kenya once he recovers.

Mr Juma, a freelance reporter, was detained in the capital, Addis Ababa, in July, following the unrest that broke out after the killing of popular Oromo musician Hachalu Hundessa.

Authorities in Ethiopia this week ordered his release, saying he had been “wrongfully arrested”.

Kenya's Foreign Ministry said he was released after the intervention of its embassy in Ethiopia, which had sent several protests notes to Addis Ababa.

Mr Hachalu’s death sparked widespread protests mainly in the Oromia region, which is home to Oromos, the largest ethnic community in Ethiopia.

Nearly 200 people died and 9,000 were arrested in the unrest. Among those still in detention include dozens of prominent opposition leaders and journalists.

There are reports of of a fresh wave of protests in Oromia over the continued detention of opposition leaders from the region.

Security forces have been accused of shooting at protesters during clashes, killing dozens and injuring many more, according to hospital sources.

Members of the Oromo community in the US have also been holding street demonstrations against the detentions.

This article was originally published by BBC News. [Photo: Kenya Foreign Affairs]