Ethiopia to set free 120 Somali prisoners

Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre. PHOTO | SOMALIPM 

By ABDULKADIR KHALIF
More by this Author

Somalia Prime Minister Hassan Ali Khayre has announced Ethiopia's decision to release over 120 Somali prisoners.

Mr Khayre made the announcement on Twitter from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, where he is attending the African Union Summit.

The PM said his government had managed to reach an agreement with Ethiopia to set the prisoners free.

“We have succeeded to reach an agreement with the Ethiopian government to release and hand over to the Somali government 120 prisoners,” the premier said on his @SomaliPM Twitter handle.

Those expected to be released include Somali reporter Boqorka Bartamaha, who was charged and sentenced to a long-term imprisonment for alleged involvement in terrorism.

Many Somalis took to social media to express their excitement at the prospect of the release of their relatives, following Mr Khayre's statement.

The released prisoners would be flown to Mogadishu.

Somalia recently announced its intentions to pursue the release of Somalis imprisoned abroad, particularly in India and Seychelles.

Some may complete their jail terms in Somalia.