Africa
Amnesty International worked during 1974-75 for prisoners of conscience in 37 African countries. Due largely to political developments in the continent, full or partial amnesties were granted in a number of states.
In Rhodesia, following moves for a political settlement between nationalist groups and the ruling government of Prime Minister Ian Smith, approximately 80 long-term detainees were released in the months following December 1974; but, at the same time, others have been detained.
In Morocco, a rapprochement between King Hassan and the leading opposition parties created the atmosphere for the release during the last months of 1974 of more than 70 adopted prisoners who had been held since September 1973.
In Mozambique and Angola, the change of government in Portugal resulted in the release of prisoners formerly held under the regime of Dr Marcelo Caetano.
A military coup in Chad freed 172 political prisoners, including AI adoptees, and in Mali, the government of President Moussa Traoré promised that 1975 would be a year of national reconciliation marked by the release of political prisoners, and began to implement this policy with the liberation of 15 detainees in June 1975.
All these developments give cause for hope. However, in many areas of the continent, there has been a deterioration in the human rights situation in 1974-75. In spite of the releases in Rhodesia, over 250 prisoners remain in detention with- out trial. In South Africa, notwithstanding that country's policy of détente with independent African states, political leaders of the African population have been arrested, detained for considerable periods and then brought to trial under the Terrorism Act.
Under the rule of President Idi Amin, reports continue of massacres, "dis- appearances" and imprisonment in Uganda. In Ethiopia, the Provisional Military Administration Council, which assumed power with the overthrow of Emperor Haile Selassie I in September 1974, has imprisoned hundreds of Ethiopians with- out trial and is trying civilians before special courts martial, administering a severe penal code promulgated in November of the same year. In Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia, and Sudan, detention without trial remains a serious problem.
One disturbing development in Africa during the last 12 months has been the
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