Ethiopia briefs foreign diplomats on decision to lift state of emergency

Source: Xinhua| 2017-08-08 01:39:00|Editor: huaxia
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ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 7 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government on Monday briefed Addis Ababa-based foreign ambassadors and diplomats on its decision to lift the 10-month long state of emergency period.

The east African country has on Friday lifted a state of emergency that was enacted on October 9, 2016 after violent demonstrations left many private and state-owned firms in flames in some parts of the country.

Negeri Lencho, Ethiopian Minister of Government Communication Affairs Office, outlined during the briefing Monday the major reasons that led the declaration of the emergency rule back in October 2016, and the measures taken during the course of action.

He also expressed the ongoing political reforms, as one major response to the preoccupations of the public, and grounds for lifting the state of emergency.

The state of emergency, during its initial days, had imposed various restrictions, among which were curfews, social media blocks, and a ban on diplomats traveling more than 40km outside the capital Addis Ababa without approval.

Many of these restrictions were, however, lifted as the country's peace and security situations improved.

"Government's decision to lift the state of emergency is ascribed to the restoration of law and order in the country," he said.

With the exception of a few places, the situation has been reversed and now that the normal local administration and security mechanisms could take over, he affirmed.

According to Lencho, the declaration of the state of emergency was meant to restore law and order and ascertain the peaceful conduct of normal public activities.

He also indicated that the release of over 21,000 detainees and the full reinstitution of the internet service were among the restrictions lifted during the course of the state of emergency period. Enditem

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