ADDIS ABABA, June 15 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government announced on Friday it has pardoned 304 detainees including 289 convicted of terrorism charges.
The Ethiopia Attorney General said the pardoned included three Kenyans and nine death row inmates, reported local media outlet Radio Fana.
The statement further said the decision to release the three Kenyans was part of a bilateral agreement between Ethiopia and Kenya to exchange prisoners, with a view to ensuring strengthened ties between the two "brotherly" nations.
The Attorney General didn't specify what were the crimes that led to the jailing of the three Kenyans or when the trio were jailed.
Prisoner releases are part of the Ethiopian government's promises to institute political reform and affirm commitment to good governance.
The Ethiopian government has characterized the mass prisoner release programs as part of its efforts to widen political space by creating national consensus and reconciliation.
Since the swearing in of new Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on April 2, several thousand prisoners including prominent opposition figures and activists have been released.
