Fresh hope for Briton jailed in Ethiopia

HOPES have been raised that a British human rights activist jailed illegally in Ethiopia could soon be released, after the country’s prime minister announced the pardoning of political prisoners and the closure of a prison where he may have been tortured.

Andy Tsege, 62, who was born in Ethiopia but became a British citizen after seeking political asylum in London in 1979, was abducted by Ethiopian security forces in 2014 and thrown in the notorious Maekelawi Prison. He has since been moved to another prison.

The Ethiopian government claims he is a terrorist, while human rights campaigners say the father-of-three was illegally detained on politically motivated charges.

In an unexpected announcement yesterday, Hailemariam Desalegn, the Ethiopian prime minister, announced: “Political prisoners that are facing prosecutions and are already under arrest will be released.”

Maya Foa, director of the charity Reprieve, which has supported Mr Tsege’s case, said: “This is a real opportunity for the Ethiopian government to recognise Andy’s desperate situation and ensure he is one of those released.”