BBC Amharic – Two EPRP politicians and opposition lawyer Abera Nigus arrested
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Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from DW Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic – Two EPRP politicians and opposition lawyer Abera Nigus arrested
August 4, 2026 (Hamle 28, 2018 EC)
Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Party (EPRP) politicians Abebe Akalu and Yisak Wolday and Abera Nigus who served as defense attorney for former minister of peace Taye Dendea were arrested according to sources who spoke to BBC.
The two politicians and the legal professional were detained by “Federal Police” personnel at different times yesterday on August 3, 2026 (Hamle 27, 2018 EC) starting from the morning according to family members, lawyers and EPRP’s president.
First to be detained was Abera Nigus who was known to serve as legal defense for opposition politicians. Abera, who was previously arrested, served as regional bureau head under the interim administration led by Dr. Mulu Nega established by federal authorities after the start of the conflict in Tigray.
He was detained in 2016 EC (sometime between September 12, 2023, and September 10, 2024) in connection with a planned demonstration calling for an “end to war”.
“Federal Police” personnel arrived at attorney Abera’s residence yesterday morning at around 7:30 am according to a relative who spoke to BBC on condition of anonymitiy.
At the time Abera was preparing to head to work said the source, when “suddenly they came, and he became startled himself.” Federal Police personnel had told Abera he was “wanted for questioning” they recalled. According to the source, there was no detailed explanation of the matter provided.
The whereabouts of Abera, a father of two, have yet to be disclosed, they said. Today, Tuesday, security personnel returned to the residence to conduct a search according to sources.
Among those who reported attorney Abera’s arrest on social media was EPRP’s public relations officer Yisak Wolday.
Yisak, had campaigned as a representative of the House of People’s Representatives representing EPRP during the seventh national elections in Ginbot (June) prior to withdrawing his name. Yisak had previously been detained multiple times as well.
Yisak, a friend of attorney Abera, was detained from his residence at 2:30 pm according to EPRP president Abraham Haimanot who spoke to BBC. As per EPRP’s president Yisak was also detained by Federal Police personnel.
One source who spoke to BBC explained yesterday afternoon Yisak was sighted dismounting from a police vehicle and entering the Federal Police criminal investigations bureau in the Mexico area.
EPRP President Abraham Haimanot said the third individual to be detained within a single day was party member and well-known politician Abebe Akalu. Former Ethiopian Citizens for Social Justice (EZEMA) secretary Abebe Akalu had left his party in Hamle 2016 EC (sometime between July 8, 2024 to August 6, 2024) to join the other opposition party, EPRP.
Abebe was detained in an area “outside of his residence” at night, EPRP President Abraham told BBC. Between yesterday night and this morning, the politician’s whereabouts had been unknown, creating distress for his family members.
“The family was under great distress up until this morning, it was then when it was learned he was detained in the Mexico area” they said during a call with BBC at around noon. Though Abebe’s whereabouts were determined, as of now, he was unable to make contact with family members.
Attorney Abera was also unable to contact family members according to one source. The two politicians and the legal professional had not been presented before a court of law, according to another source.
BBC’s efforts to obtain information regarding the arrest of the three individuals from the Ethiopian Federal Police were not successful. Federal Police media and communications department head Jeylan Abdi said he was unable to provide commentary at this time.
