15/09/2026
The Illusion of Clemency: How Ethiopian Executive Discretion Sabotages the Rule of Law
The recent release of over 600 prisoners on the eve of the Ethiopian New Year was publicly framed as a grand gesture of reconciliation—a bridge toward national healing. Yet, behind the official rhetoric lies a deeply alarming practice: the executive branch’s manipulation of judicial processes under the guise of clemency. Rather than demonstrating political goodwill, forcing pre-trial political detainees to request pardons and sign self-incriminating conditional documents exposes a troubling erosion of procedural integrity, institutional independence, and constitutional governance.
https://keyirtimes.et/Commentary/the-illusion-of-clemency-how-ethiopian-executive-discretion-sabotages-the-rule-of-law
