Ethiopia’s presidentZewde Sahle-Work has said more than 90,000 nationals had returned to thecountry because of her government’s citizen-centered diplomacy. Sahle-Work, who wasappointed to the role in October last year, was delivering her maiden speech tothe country’s parliament. Since taking office inApril last year, the country’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has released politicalprisoners, engaged opposition parties and pursued radical economic anddiplomatic reforms. These reforms have beencited by several opposition leaders and other Ethiopians who returned fromexile, as the reason they have come back home. The government grantedamnesty to individuals and groups, either under investigation or convicted ontreason, crimes against the constitutional order and armed struggle. Prominent Ethiopiansthat have returned home include members of the Oromo Liberation Front,activists Jawar Mohammed and Mohammed Ademo, and the current electoralcommission chief, Birtukan Mideksa.