Ethiopia prosecutors drop charges against TPLF leaders

Prosecutors in Ethiopia say they’re dropping criminal charges placed against senior civil and military leaders from the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF).

This is the latest move following a peace deal signed last year to end one of Africa’s deadliest conflicts between the TPLF and the government.

A statement by the ministry of justice said on Thursday that conflict-related cases would be seen “in the context of transitional justice”.

In July 2021 more than 60 senior TPLF figures, including its leader Debretsion Gebremichael, and Getachew Reda, now appointed interim head of the Tigray region, were charged with terrorism. Institutions linked with the organisation were also charged.

Since the agreement was reached between the federal government and Tigray fighters last year, relative peace has returned to northern Ethiopia after two years of bloodshed.