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Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Kinfe Mickeal Debebe never thought the day would come when he would be free again.
But on this bright Wednesday morning, he goes down Africa Avenue to downtown Addis Ababa. "
The 47-year-old opposition politician was recently released from prison after serving more than six years in jail for 25 years
. They were jailed for my political activism, "Kinfe, known as Aebebe Kestol, told Al Jazeera
while North Africa was at the top of the Arab Spring, Kinfe decided that" I'm not going to be there. " he would also try to Africa's second most populous nation
"I organized the rally to demand better human rights, freedom of expression, better democratic space, used the anti-terrorist law to throw me in jail, I thought I would come out alive, "he said.
Life in prison was difficult. Kinfe, who lost hearing in one ear, said that torture was a common practice in police custody
"They hurt me in the ear during the night." In the interview, the investigators beat you until you said what they were accusing you of. "
Reversal of Fortune
But Kinfe's luck changed unexpectedly. While he was in jail, protests erupted in the Oromia region before spreading to the Amhara region in northwestern Africa's landlocked country. East
Protesters called for political reforms and the end of human rights violations. He reacted by instituting the state of emergency and repressing the demonstrators who made hundreds of deaths.
In February, as the political crisis dragged on, Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn resigned.
"Disorders and the Political Crisis I consider my resignation as vital in the attempt to carry out reforms that would lead to lasting peace and democracy," Hailemariam said in a televised speech while he announced that he was resigning
.I never thought that I would leave the prison as a free man.I thought the only way to leave was in a mortuary bag.
Kinfe Mickeal Debebe
Abiy Ahmed, the first Prime Minister of the country belonging to the Oromo ethnic group.
Abiy, 41, announced a series of reform measures and the release of thousands of political prisoners, including Kinfe. He also ordered the lifting of the state of emergency.
Abiy said last month that security institutions in his country have tortured and committed "terrorist acts" against his own citizens in the past. I was leaving the prison as a free man, I thought the only way to leave was in a mortuary bag. I saw people dying in jail because of poor medical treatment or nonexistent ", said Kinfe,
.It is clear that the time that precedes is the one that was behind his release and that of thousands of other political prisoners
" This is not the government that liberated us, these are the demands of the people who took us out of prison. The government has had no choice but to liberate us, thanks to our people, "he added.
Opposition Groups
Many Opposition Groups Ethiopians were also on the list of terrorist organizations in the country.
But it is Chang ing now. Addis Ababa decided last week to withdraw three major opposition groups from the list of terrorist organizations in the country. countries, to the delight of their supporters.
The groups – Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), National Liberation Front of Ogaden and Ginbot 7 – were engaged in armed struggles against the government to Addis Ababa
Branu Tekleyared is a member of Ginbot 7 – a banned opposition group formulated after a disputed election in 2005 and named after the date of the Ethiopian calendar when voting took place – and was released from prison for less than a month.It is still in the process of being reconciled with his newfound freedom.
In 2014, he was arrested while attempting to cross the border with Eritrea where there are other members of the armed opposition group
. "In prison, they beat us for fun, they boated, I saw people with nails torn out of their fingers, I never thought of leaving prison." Bryan told Al Jazeera
Shortly after taking office in April, Abiy ordered the closure of Maekelawi Prison – a notorious detention and investigation center where rights groups and former detainees say torture is common. Brhanu have spent time in this prison.
Addis Ababa also promised to consider the demands of the protesters and reform its judicial system.
"The demand for reform of the justice sector in general We We recognized that there were limits to our justice system, we agreed to examine our justice system and reform it, while expanding our democratic spaces, "said Ahmed Shide, Minister of Ethics. communications in Al Jazeera
. human rights issues and judicial reform very seriously. "
Opposition members released from prison recognize that the new government has started on the right track, but say that more needs to be done.
" Abiy is young and has a lot of But his government must do more. We must repeal the anti-terrorism law and shake the electoral commission before us in the opposition and trust it to participate in the elections, "said Kinfe, who ran for the elections.
Follow Hamza Mohamed on Twitter: @ Hamza-Africa
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