TPLF rebel leaders appear in court over multiple counts of criminal offences

From Left: Sibhat Nega, Dr. Abraham Tekeste and Keria Ibrahim (Picture: ETV)

Addis Ababa, January 15, 2021 - Twenty leaders of the rebel group Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) including Sibhat Nega were put on trial today.

Sibhat Nega, Dr. Abraham Tekeste and Keria Ibrahim were among the key TPLF leaders present at the Arada Division of the Federal High Court today.

Former Tigray region President, Abay Woldu and former Addis Ababa City Transport Bureau Head, Dr. Solomon Kidane, were hospitalized and thus were unable to attend the trial.

Investigating police said the suspects were wanted for multiple crimes some of which were in connection with the attack orchestrated on the Northern Command, the killing of members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) in the Northern Command, mobilizing the Tigray youth for war, bypassing the federal government and communicating with different countries and mobilizing finances to fund the war against the federal government, for launching rockets towards Gonder and Bahir Dar airports and the resulting killing of civilians and for forceful attempt to dismantle the constitution.

All of the suspects pleaded not guilty. 18 of suspects said they will hire their own lawyers while two requested the government to hire lawyers for them.

Police requested 14 days to conduct investigation into the first 20 suspects who appeared in court today. Accordingly, the court granted a 14-day investigation period for the police.

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