This very worrying trial has major implications for human rights, media freedom and democratization in Ethiopia. It will be a crucial test of the independence and impartiality of the Ethiopian judiciary.
The failure by the DRC government to create a professional, truly unified army is contributing in a large measure to the continuing instability in the east and needlessly putting civilian lives at risk.
It is not enough for the Nigerian government to initiate an investigation. We need an international commission of inquiry that will report directly to the UN Secretary-General and make its findings public.
The army must demonstrate that it is capable of acting for the protection of all civilians, irrespective of their ethnic, community or political affiliation.
We call on the Ethiopian government to halt the police violence and set up an independent and impartial commission of inquiry.
It is a fundamental principle of criminal justice that justice delayed is justice denied.
However, real unification of the armed forces is a prerequisite for elections that are free of human rights abuses, and for the success of future peace-building in the country,
The government's actions have undermined the credibility and authority of the AU at a time when it is meeting in the Sudanese capital.
This plan is welcome. But fundamental problems relating to the discipline, training and accountability of the integrated brigades need also to be addressed as a matter of priority.
This meeting was a transparent meeting - previously known to the authorities - of those working towards peace and justice in the region.
