Covid 19: Over 4,000 prisoners pardoned in Ethiopia

In a bid to control the spread of coronavirus, the Ethiopian President, Sahle-Work Zewde, has pardoned over 4000 prisoners in the country.

This was disclosed by the President through her Twitter handle on Wednesday March 25th, 2020.

The President explained that the move was aimed at decongesting prisons across the country as part of effort to combat coronavirus.

“Prisoners who were served maximum sentence of three years and those who are about to complete their times in prison will benefit from the presidential pardon,” she noted.

Given the steady rise in the spread of coronavirus in the country and a sincere attempt to contain the spread of the virus from getting worse from the 12 already confirmed cases in Ethiopia, the government has put some drastic measures in place.

The government had ordered closure of borders, giving an exception to goods that are meant to fight the virus to be allowed into the country.