Ethiopia lifts state of emergency early, citing calming war
ABC News
Ethiopian lawmakers have voted to end the country’s three-month state of emergency as mediation efforts continue to end the deadly war in the north
NAIROBI, Kenya -- Ethiopian lawmakers have voted to end the country's three-month state of emergency as mediation efforts continue to end the deadly war in the north.
Tuesday's vote by lawmakers came after Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers, chaired by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, decided on Jan. 26 to end the state of emergency early, citing recent developments in the conflict.
The six-month state of emergency was imposed in early November as Tigray forces fighting Ethiopian and allied forces moved closer to the capital, Addis Ababa. They withdrew back into the Tigray region in late December amid mediation efforts and under pressure from a drone-supported military offensive carried out by the government.
Thousands of mainly ethnic Tigrayans were detained under the state of emergency, according to witnesses, lawyers and human rights groups. Many were released after December's shift in the war.
