The demonstrators who held a peaceful protest also submitted a petition to PAP deputy clerk Samuel Efoua Mbozo`o who assured them that it will be forwarded to the PAP bureau.

Secretary of the Kinijit Support Group of South Africa, Messai Mamo, said the organisation believes PAP can influence the Ethiopian government to release opposition leaders and all other political prisoners.

“The crisis that is currently sliding Ethiopia into a dangerous situation could only be resolved through compromise, negotiation and matured political process. This process cannot begin while elected leaders are incarcerated in jails,” Mamo said.

He said without holding African governments accountable for their political and economic governance and respect for human rights, the vision of providing a common platform for African peoples to be involved in discussions and decision-making facing the continent will never be realised.

“You cannot fight terrorism by allowing state terrorism in Ethiopia. Support the struggle for democracy in Ethiopia,” some placards read.

Among the concerns expressed by the group include the detention of more than 50 elected parliamentarians, civil society leaders, human rights activists and journalists for almost a year and half following elections in 2005.