Ethiopia arrests opposition figures over terror claims

Ethiopian authorities arrested two opposition members and a lawyer close to their party, accusing them of planning terrorist acts, while defence representatives rejected the allegations as false.

Yisak Wolday, head of public relations for the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party, party member Abebe Akalum and lawyer Abera Nigus were arrested on Monday. Abera has represented several members of the opposition party.

The men appeared in court in Addis Ababa on Wednesday. A police charge sheet accuses them of intent to seize power by force and says they planned and coordinated terrorist acts. They are also accused of links to the Tigray People's Liberation Front rebels and Eritrea.

“Those accusations are completely false,” EPRP secretary general Mistresilasie Tamerat said. Mebrihi Brhane, Abera's lawyer, said police had not presented evidence and had shown media articles to support the accusations.

Mebrihi said police were expected to present evidence on Thursday, with the court due to decide on Friday whether to grant bail or remand the men in custody. Police said the suspects could intimidate witnesses, destroy evidence or disrupt the investigation if released on bail.

The arrests come during what critics describe as a growing crackdown on dissent in Ethiopia. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Prosperity Party won a landslide in June parliamentary elections, taking 90 percent of seats in the lower house, while the EPRP won none.