Seven long-detained senior members of the opposition political party, the Oromo Liberation Front, were finally freed by the Ethiopian government last week.
It was never appropriate for Abdi Regassa, Dawit Abdeta, Lammi Begna, Michael Boran, Kenessa Ayana, Gaada Oljira, and Gaada Gebissa to be detained, much less imprisoned.The government disregarded numerous court orders for their release, and they were held in custody for four years without being charged.
Human Rights Watch’s research uncovered numerous instances of the authorities violating their rights. They were kept incommunicado or forcibly disappeared for months at a time, with their families and attorneys unaware of their whereabouts.
The men were regularly transferred by the authorities between unofficial and official detention facilities, such as a police training camp and a chicken farm where they were housed in a dark, airless storage room without access to water or light.
While in custody, Kenessa Ayana and Gaada Gebissa experienced severe health problems.
Although their release has been welcomed by their supporters and family, the conditions that led to their unjustifiable arrest and protracted detention still exist, endangering the safety of all politicians. Redress from the government ought to be prompt and sufficient.
The larger issue of ensuring that people participating in peaceful political activity do not have to fear for their lives or freedom must be addressed by the Ethiopian government. Batte Urgessa, a coworker of the imprisoned men who had relentlessly advocated for their release, was brutally killed in April not long after she was allowed to leave custody.
The United States and other allies of Ethiopia have praised the release of the opposition leaders, but they ought to go farther. They should emphasize how unlawful the detentions are and put pressure on Ethiopian authorities to stop the practice of forcibly disappearing government critics and making arbitrary arrests and detentions without charge, both of which are still widespread in Ethiopia today.