AFP Copyright: AFP Thousands have been detained since anti-government protests broke out Image caption: Thousands have been detained since anti-government protests broke out

A court in Ethiopia has sentenced more than 30 people to long prison terms for belonging to an outlawed group, just two weeks after it announced it would free some jailed politicians. So what is different about this group?

The government would say there is no contradiction between its recent statement on freeing prisoners and these sentences.

Although their supporters are hoping they will be released, the authorities here see Ginbot 7 members as terrorists, not political activists.

Both its current leader Berhanu Nega and its founder Andargachew Tsege have been sentenced to death in absentia by an Ethiopian court for trying to overthrow the government. They both deny the charges.

Andargachew was extradited to Ethiopia in 2014 while Berhanu's whereabouts are unknown.

Berhanu, a former university professor in the US, has previously threatened to march to Addis Ababa to remove the current government from power.

The government says the US-based group is sponsored by Eritrea and accuses it of trying to infiltrate the country.

Most of its members live in exile but authorities says some are active - but in hiding in Ethiopia.

It is highly unlikely that if any prisoners are released, Andergachew would be one of them as the government has previously taken a very strong stand against his release, despite pressure from human rights groups.

Read more: Ethiopia court jails members of outlawed group Ginbot 7

Correction: A previous version of this post suggested that the UK had campaigned for Mr Andergachew's release