Timeline in english

2009
2010
2011
JAN
FEB
JUN
JUL
AUG
OKT
NOV
DEC
27/12
Sanctions announced: 11 years in prison each.
SEP
18/10
The trial starts in Addis Abeba. Great diplomatic
presence, including about 15 countries, among
them the United States.
2012
MAR
APR
April
Johan and Martin get a bed
each because of good
behaviour in the prison.
FEB
29/1
Cabinet secretary Frank Belfrage
meets Meles Zenawi in Addis Abeba.
15/2
The Swedish government presents it’s
foreign policy declaration in which Johan
and Martin are mentioned by name.
7/3
A petition of mercy is handed
over to Meles Zenawi.
JAN
10/1
Johan and Martin inform about
their decision not to appeal.
GULF OF ADEN
ETHIOPIA
Addis Ababa
MAJ
6/9
Charged with terrorism and illegal
entry. Johan and Martin are moved
from the police office in Addis Abeba
to the Kality prison.
14/6
The guerrilla ONLF, which Johan
and Martin are supposed to
meet with in Ogaden, is
branded as a terrorist group
by the Ethiopian government.
SOMALIA
Jijiga
Kality prison
OGADEN
SOUTHSUDAN
Galkayo
200 km
KENYA
30/6
Johan and Martin are
arrested by the Ethiopian
military in the Ogaden.
10/10
The Norwegian Prime Minister,
Jens Stoltenberg, receives
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Meles
Zenawi in Oslo. He raises the
question of Johan and
Martin.
3/11
Count of terrorism
is dropped.
21/12
Convicted of illegal entry
and association with
terrorists.
2/1
Swedish ambassador Jens
Odlander is handing over a
letter from Prime Minister
Fredrik Reinfeldt to Meles Zenawi.
19/1
Three Ethiopian journalists are sentenced to prison.
8/2
Meles Zenawi explains in parliament that there
is a chance of pardon, if Johan and Martin apologize.
Joh
an Pe
rs
son
S
rtin
a
M
22/2
Swedish government representatives,
among them Fredrik Reinfeldt, meet
with Meles Zenawi in London.
27/6
Another six Ethiopian
journalists are sentenced
to prison.
MAJ
There is a tradition of
pardon and forgiveness in Ethiopia and
we choose to put our
trust in this tradition.
YEMEN
SUDAN
APR
15/6
Johan and Martin fly from Nairobi to Galkayo,
Somalia, in order to get into the closed off and
controversial province of Ogaden in Ethiopia,
with the help of a private driver. They are delayed
due to security problems at the border.
ERITREA
MAR
While on a trip working on a coverage story in
refugee camps in Dadaab, North Eastern Kenya,
Johan Persson and his colleague Anna Roxvall
meet refugees from the Ogaden. This is where
the idea of a story is born, which Martin
Schibbye will take part in later.
January– June
Research
JUN
10/5
Foreign Minister Carl Bildt
meets with Meles Zenawi,
but also visits Johan and
Martin in the Kality prison.
21/8
The Ethiopian government
announces the death of Meles
Zenawi.
JUL
8/9
Jens Odlander receives the
information that Johan and
Martin will be released.
AUG
SEP
15/7
Meles Zenawi is not present at the
African Union top meeting in Addis
Abeba, which spurs rumours about his
health. Ethiopian newspaper Feteh is
stopped from publishing an edition
including an article about this fact.
22/8
The Ethiopian government
announces that the deputy
Prime Minister,
Hailemariam Desalegn,
will remain in his position
until the election in 2015.
ib
ch
by
e
10/9
Johan and Martin
are pardoned and
released from
prison.
9/9
Fredrik Reinfeldt
talks to Hailemariam
Desalegn
2/9
Carl Bildt meets
Hailemariam
Desalegn in
connection to Meles
Zenawi’s funeral in
Addis Abeba.
Johan och Martin
Infographic: SVENSKA GRAFIKBYRÅN