State media in Ethiopia is reporting the closure of a notorious prison that human rights groups have described as a torture chamber.

State-linked Fana Broadcasting announced in a terse statement that the government had closed the Maekelewi interrogation Center and all prisoners that had been detained there have been sent elsewhere.

The closure was part of the commitment made by the ruling EPRDF coalition last December as it tried to end anti-government protests

The closure marks a significant point in Ethiopia’s history as Maekelawi has become a symbol of the torture that detainees have experienced over many years.

It comes just days after Abiy Ahmed took over as Ethiopia’s new prime minister following the abrupt resignation of his predecessor.

Mr Abiy’s inaugural speech promised to bring reforms to Ethiopia with many seeing his rise to power as a turning point in a country where the government has long been accused of gross human rights violations.

Ethiopia is currently under a second state of emergency in just two years, imposed to quell nearly three years of anti-government protests.

Hundreds of people have died and tens of thousands more detained during that period.