Is the Ethiopian justice system on the right path of reform?

An infamous prison was closed and there are bids to prosecute officials who abused power, but activists remain cautious. “There are some good beginnings in reforming Ethiopia’s justice system, the opening of Maekelawi to the public being one of them,” said Wabella. “But, Maekelawi is one single building, the reform should be across all sectors of the justice system.” Wabella also criticised the makeover of Maekelawi; cell walls had been painted to cover former prisoners’ writings and paintings. It was a good gesture to open Maekelawi, but there’s no guarantee the change is irreversible if Ethiopia’s Attorney General Office, in particular, continues to be politicised.” In June, more than a year since Ahmed came to power, rights groups issued concern as several activists, journalists and politicians were arrested – and as a feared 2009 anti-terror law to prosecute suspects was still being used, following the killings of high-ranking government officials and military figures. “You see some prominent faces, like former politician and prisoner Birtukan Mideksa leading the National Electoral Board of Ethiopia, and another former prisoner, Daniel Bekele, heading the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.