Prosecutors in the Tigray region are seeking sedition charges for nine youths who were arrested in Mekele city six weeks ago while they “were preparing to hold an illegal demonstration.”  

Police have detained the youths as they made their way to the meeting point at the downtown, known as Romant Square, while they were preparing to hold the demonstration, a police spokesperson said. The youths have been accused of “working to incite public violence” and “carrying banners that call for the dismaantling of the ruling party,” but have yet to be formally charged.

The suspects were brought to First Instance Woyane Court on Thursday. The police told the court that it has completed its investigation and handed down the files to the prosecutors, it was said. The nine will appear in court again on Thursday, August 20.

The suspects were first brought to court within forty-eight hours of their arrest but remained in custody without being formally charged for about 48 days because police have been requesting the court for additional days for investigation.

Opposition groups say countless other activists have been abducted in recent months in the region and no one has been charged for the crimes.