Amhara region pardons over 4, 300 prisoners amid New Year celebrations

ADDIS ABABA: September 9 (EI) — Ethiopia’s Amhara regional state on Monday pardoned some 4,329 prisoners in connection with the new Ethiopian year, regional officials said.

Amhara regional state attorney general office, in a press statement issued on Monday, said that the move is part of a “goodwill gesture” as Ethiopia prepares to celebrate its own unique new year on Thursday.

The statement further noted that the reported 4,239 prisoners have been pardoned after meeting Ethiopia’s pardon law requirements, with 10 percent of the pardoned prisoners being females.

Federal and regional government officials have also characterized similar mass prisoner release moves to have critical significance in widening the country’s political space by creating national consensus and reconciliation.