Ethiopia arrests over 60 high-ranking army officials

Ethiopia on Monday announced the arrest of dozens of high-ranking security officials over alleged human rights violations and corruption.

Speaking at a news briefing, Attorney General Berhanu Tsegaye said 36 high-ranking security officials were arrested for human rights violations, while 27 officials of Metals and Engineering Corporation (METEC), a military-run conglomerate, were held for embezzlement of public funds.

Tsegaye said that “the crimes against humanity” were committed by high ranking officials and operatives of National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS), which operated dozens of secret prisons throughout Ethiopia.

“People were being detained without trail for long time in the prisons,” he alleged.”

“In humane torture, bodily harm, forced disappearances, sexual attacks against men and women inmates were committed in those prisons,” he said.

According to him, the violations had been “institutionalized” and also victimized family members of the incarcerated citizens.

Tsegaye also accused officials of METEC of misuse of public funds worth billions of dollars.

“METEC has made unlawful international procurement worth $2 billion without the established bidding process,” he said, adding the conglomerate also made “unlawful” domestic procurement worth another $2 billion.

He said METEC officials made their family members as middlemen in their own bidding processes.

Tsegaye who refused to provide names noted that criminal charges will be filled against the detained.