Police in Ethiopia have rearrested former state minister for peace Taye Dendea, his spouse confirmed on Tuesday.
Sentayehu Alemayehu was quoted as saying Taye was arrested on Monday around 4 P.M. local time after ten police officers entered his residence and told him that he was wanted for interrogation.
Dendea was arrested in December 2023 a day after he strongly criticised Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed as a “ruthless man who plays with the blood of innocent humans.”
Taye also criticised the government for “failure to reach negotiation with the Oromo Liberation Army.”
He was released from prison in December 2024 on a 20,000 birr bail.
Dendea‘s court case is being revived and he will be facing two charges that were dropped in December 2024.
Incitement to violence and supporting anti-peace forces are the new charges against him aside from accusation of violating firearm possession regulations.
He appeared in court Tuesday for a scheduled hearing. During the session, the court reinstated charges that had earlier been dropped, including allegations that he was involved in plotting a coup against the government.
He was initially charged with collaborating with groups seeking to destabilise Ethiopia and with using social media platforms to endorse violence. However, a judge at the Federal High Court found him not guilty of these two charges but ordered him to defend against a third charge related to the illegal possession of firearms.
Ethiopia’s Supreme Court initially rejected his request for bail. However, after a lengthy hearing, the Federal Appeal Court ruled in December 2024 that Taye should be released on bail of 20,000 birr, pending the outcome of his gun charge case.
