CAT/C/67/D/775/2016 6.8 Since April 2018, thousands of political prisoners have been freed, and Maekelawi prison, notorious for being a place where acts of torture used to be committed, has been closed. Mr. Ahmed, formerly a high-ranking official in the Information Network Security Agency, has carried out reforms to modify the Agency’s practices and structure. In June 2018, the Directory of the National Intelligence and Security Service was dismissed. On 12 November 2018, arrest warrants were issued for 36 national security officials, and the defendants had to appear before the Federal High Court in Addis Ababa to respond to accusations of having subjected detainees to ill-treatment. Moreover, the Minister of Justice, Berhanu Segaye, announced that the former management of the National Intelligence and Security Service was responsible for conducting an attack on the Prime Minister on 23 June 2018. On 15 November 2018, Yared Zerihun, the former Acting Director of the National Intelligence and Security Service, and Gudeta Olana, the head of the security division at State-owned Ethio Telecom, were arrested. 6.9 The leader of Ginbot 7, Mr. Tsege, who had been detained since 2014 and was on death row, was pardoned and freed in May 2018, together with 575 other detainees. Mr. Tsege then returned to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, where his family lives. Similarly, the death sentence issued against Mr. Nega, who lives in exile, was quashed. 6.10 On 22 June 2018, Ginbot 7 declared that, it was laying down its arms following the reforms announced by the new Government. In early July 2018, Ginbot 7 and two other organizations were removed from the list of terrorist organizations established by the Government of Ethiopia, and in September 2018, Mr. Nega stated that Ginbot 7 would henceforth pursue its political objectives through peaceful means. 6.11 At the end of August 2018, the Government of Ethiopia announced having entered into an agreement with different opposition parties, including Ginbot 7, and the creation of a State entity charged with coordinating the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of former combatants. In early September 2018, several media outlets reported that hundreds of former Ginbot 7 combatants had left their base in Eritrea and had returned to Ethiopia, where they had been welcomed by local authorities and communities. 6.12 On 9 September 2018, Mr. Nega returned to Ethiopia, where he was welcomed by a minister and other government representatives. Thousands of people, including supporters of Ginbot 7, gathered in central Addis Ababa and in the national stadium to celebrate his return. Mr. Nega announced that discussions would be held throughout the country to define peaceful means of action for the future. 6.13 The return of the leaders of Ginbot 7 occurred without violence. In Oromiya State, thousands of people welcomed the leaders of the party while waving the former Ethiopian flag, which had been used during protests against the former regime. No harm came to the participants, whereas in March 2018, 12 activists had been arrested for having brandished that flag. Mr. Nega himself stated that the situation in Ethiopia had fundamentally changed since the nomination of Mr. Ahmed as Prime Minister. Accordingly, there is no risk of torture or ill-treatment for members or sympathizers of Ginbot 7 in Ethiopia, or for those returning to the country. Issues and proceedings before the Committee Consideration of admissibility 7.1 Before considering any claims submitted in a communication, the Committee must decide whether it is admissible under article 22 of the Convention. The Committee has ascertained, as it is required to do under article 22 (5) (a) of the Convention, that the same matter has not been and is not being examined under another procedure of international investigation or settlement. 7.2 In accordance with article 22 (5) (b) of the Convention, the Committee shall not consider any communication from an individual unless it has ascertained that the individual has exhausted all available domestic remedies. The Committee notes that, in the present case, the State party has not challenged the admissibility of the communication. 11