ADDIS ABABA, May 7 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's northern Amhara regional state announced on Monday it would pardon 3,591 prisoners as part of the Ethiopian government's reform plan.
The Justice Bureau of Amhara regional state, however said the pardons won't include those convicted of rapes, human trafficking, corruption and circulating counterfeit money, reported state-affiliated media outlet Radio Fana.
Amhara regional state has previously given pardons to 2,923 detainees as part of efforts to create national consensus and social harmony.
Amhara regional state, which along with Oromia regional state, accounts for about 65 percent of Ethiopia's estimated 100 million population has witnessed persistent protests since 2016, over allegations of political and economic marginalization.
The protests have shaken the hold of the ruling coalition Ethiopian People Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) which has been ruling Ethiopia for close to 27 years.
The ruling party is a coalition of four parties that are Oromo People Democratic Organization (OPDO), the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Southern Ethiopian People's Democratic Movement (SEPDM).
