The Ethiopian Government, led by  Prime Minister Abiy Ahmet, who came to power in April 2018, reportedly pardoned 13,200 people in the last 6 months.

Ethiopia on Tuesday said it had granted 13,200 people amnesty as part of a broad reform agenda pushed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Ethiopian Parliament in July passed a law allowing people convicted or facing charges of "treason, crimes against the constitutional order and armed struggle" to apply for pardons.

The anti-government protesters, most of whom were arrested before the government led by Abiy Ahmed, were detained and jailed for "terrorism and treason."

The Chief Prosecutor of Ethiopia, who made a statement to state television, said the government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who came to power in April, pardoned 13,200 people in the last 6 months and that the beneficiaries of Amnesty have been granted a certificate.

Abiy Ahmed took office in April following more than two years of anti-government unrest that had prompted the government to twice declare a nationwide state of emergency and led to hundreds of deaths and tens of thousands of arrests.

He has since won over many Ethiopians by releasing jailed dissidents and welcoming home banned groups, all while promising to make elections expected in 2020 free and fair. (ILKHA)