AFRICA.Addis Ababa: Kibrom Berhe, head of foreign affairs relations of the National Congress of Great Tigray (Baytona Party), an opposition political party from the Tigray regional state, has been rearrested by Ethiopian federal security forces. This is his second arrest in a row.
Berhe, a critic of the civil unrest in Tigray among other people were earlier arrested in July 2021. Following the incident, Amnesty International in a statement condemned the detention tagging it “Arbitrary arrests targeting Tigrayans”
He was detained for months in Afar state, without any charges. And has since authored a book focusing on the civil war in Tigray.
Baytona, an opposition party is seeking a confederation with Ethiopia and independent states in the country. The party’s political ideology advocates that the concept of a united Ethiopia is impossible with Ethiopia’s irreconcilable historical and structural constructs, according to findings.
Confirming Berhe’s arrest, Yosef Hailesselassie, head of Baytona’s Inspection Commission, told BBC that the security forces rearrested him on the evening of July 10.
Hitherto, Berhe’s wife was on Sunday evening detained by security forces clad in muftis. They asked her to confess the whereabouts of her husband. Berhe, according to Yosef was placed under arrest following his wife’s freedom.
Detaining opposition and critics in the political arena is a common practice in many African countries. In Ethiopia, Berhe is the Tigray-based opposition party leader incarcerated by the incumbent power.
Another opposition leader, Dori Asgedom, Chairman of Assimba Democratic Party (ADP), based in Tigray, has been in detention since January 13, last year after he exposed the atrocities trailing the killings of Tagrayans. He had remained in Kality prison located on the outskirt of Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia.
ADP is a party that represents the minority Irob community who live in the mountainous area of northeastern Tigray.
ALSO READ: Pan-African Financial Firm Accused of Cash-Flow Scam in Kenya
