Month: July 2018

Ethiopia establishes Advisory Council to reform justice system

Ethiopia has established Law and Justice Advisory Council Advisory Council to reform the justice system, including the anti-terrorism law.

The Council has 13 members. Freedom of the mass media and access to information law, anti-terrorism law and charities and societies law are among the proclamations which caused public outcry and contradict with the constitution.

The Council established is tasked to provide policy recommendations to the government for the amendment of the aforesaid laws and reform of the justice system.

Regarding the anti-terrorism law, the Council will decide whether the law will be amended or covered with other law.

The Council has a three-year lifespan, but could be extended if necessary.

The budget for the Council will be earmarked by the government.

Among the Council members include, Dr Belachew Mekuria, Meaza Ashenafi, Prof Tilahun Teshome, Tamiru Wondimagegn and Ali Mohammed.

Ethiopia Removes OLF, ONLF and Ginbot7 From Terrorist List

The Council of Ministers of Ethiopia on Saturday has decided to take out the names of Ginbot 7, Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) and Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF) from the terrorist group list.

The decision has followed Ethiopia’s Parliament ratification of Amnesty Bill on Friday 29 June. Now the decision of the Council of Ministers is expected to be approved by the Parliament. The Bill enables the country to completely free anyone charged and/or prosecuted for whatever crime she/he has done in the past.

The came after the new leadership of the ruling party decided to end internal and neighbouring political conflicts peacefully by involving all parties. As a result, the country has released thousands of prisoners over the past few months.

The new Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has also travelled to the neighbouring countries as well as Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates to elaborate on the new conflict-free policy of Ethiopia.

Through his new conflict-free, mutual interest based and peaceful regional integration approach, Prime Minister Dr Abiy Ahmed has also succeeded to bringing South Sudan opposition head Dr Machar to Addis Ababa last week for the face to face talks with President Salva Kirr for the first time in two years.

Ending the two decades ‘no-peace, no-war’ situation with neighbouring Eritrea, Prime Minister Dr Abiy has also managed to welcome the Eritrean delegation last week who came to Addis Ababa accepting his call to end the dispute peacefully.

Now he is expected to meet with President Isaias Afwerki of Eritrea in the coming days, according to the state media reports who quoted the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia.