The Ethiopian authorities charged today, Saturday, with crimes including "terrorism" and "incitement to violence" against prominent opponents, Jawhar Muhammad and Bekele Gerba, in a move that would inflame tension in the restive Oromo region.
The accusations that could lead to life imprisonment relate to the violence that erupted after the killing of popular singer Hasalo Hondisa, who is of the Oromo ethnicity, and whose voice reflected the feeling of political and economic marginalization among the country's largest ethnic groups.
In the aftermath of the killing of Hashalu on 29 June, up to 239 people were killed in ethnic violence and clashes with security forces highlighting the security challenges facing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, last year's Nobel Peace Prize winner.
Jawhar and Bekele were among more than 9,000 people arrested in subsequent mass arrests that sparked criticism that Abe was using the unrest to silence his political opponents.
On Saturday, the Public Prosecutor's Office announced charges against 24 suspects. The charges include "attempting to incite ethnic and religious conflict," and among the suspects are many of Abe's prominent critics who live abroad.
Gohar's lawyer, Tully Bayissa, told the French press that he had not been informed of the charges against his client yet, but he rejected them and described them as unfounded.
"It's very shocking. I'm 100% sure it could take years and years, but they will not prove these allegations if the law actually works," Tolle said.
Jawhar and Bekele, both of whom are members of the opposition European Federal Congress Party, are expected to appear in court on Monday.
Gohar played a key role in the anti-government protests that brought Abe to power in 2018.
Abe is the country's first prime minister from the Oromo ethnicity, but he faces severe criticism from Oromo national figures such as Jawhar, who accuses him of being a weak defender of their interests and acting like a dictator.