With our correspondent in Addis Ababa, Noé Hochet-Bodin

It has now been eight days since the 24 main Oromo opposition figures began a hunger strike in prison.

A symbolic gesture to protest the arrest of nearly 100 of their supporters. These members of the OFC party, the Oromo Federalist Congress, were apprehended last week as they came to show their support for the prisoners in front of the court.

A court where Jawar Mohammed and his 23 companions continue to refuse to appear, claiming they fear for their safety.

Of the ten counts initially brought against them in September, the judiciary decided to drop six. But those who now consider themselves political prisoners will still face trial on charges of terrorism, telecommunications fraud, and incitement to hatred.

With elections taking place in exactly four months, it will be very difficult for them to take part, according to the OFC, which had at the time helped in Abiy Ahmed's rise to the position of Prime Minister. Since being labeled as an opposition party, the OFC is now paralyzed by the imprisonment of its leaders as well as the closure of most of its offices throughout the rest of the country.