Egypt frees 30 Ethiopians in presidential pardon

By Hussein Mohamed

CAIRO - At least 30 Ethiopians were released Monday from Egyptian prisons in a presidential pardon, according to the country's official news agency.

Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed thanked Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi for the move before leaving Cairo following an official visit, describing it a "generous initiative", the MENA news agency reported without further elaborating on the sentences the freed Ethiopians have been given or the charges they faced.

The 30 Ethiopians left aboard the plane of the Ethiopian prime minister who arrived in the Egyptian capital Saturday.

Ahmed's visit to Cairo was his first international trip since he assumed office in April, where he held talks with the Egyptian officials on several issues, including negotiations on the Renaissance Dam.