The Ethiopian Ministry of Defence announced on Tuesday an amnesty for 178 military personnel who had been sentenced to death for their involvement in crimes committed during the Tigray conflict.
The pardon was granted as part of an amnesty to mark the Ethiopian New Year.
According to a ministry statement, these individuals had been convicted by military courts for neglecting their constitutional duties and committing serious offences against both the military and the public. After their convictions, they were serving prison sentences.
The statement added that the formal requests for clemency were submitted and reviewed by the Amnesty Board before the pardon was approved.
The Tigray conflict started in November 2020 when Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces attacked federal army bases, leading to a war that resulted in the loss of hundreds of thousands of lives and the displacement of millions.
The conflict ended after peace agreements were signed in Pretoria and Nairobi in November last year.