Ethiopian authorities have come under heavy criticism for suspending two prominent human rights organizations, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center, in December 2024. The move is part of an escalating government crackdown on civil society, which critics say reflects a broader pattern of increasing repression against independent organizations.
In a statement released Wednesday, Human Rights Watch (HRW) condemned the suspensions, accusing the Ethiopian government of undermining essential human rights work. The government cited allegations that the organizations lacked “independence” and were “acting beyond their mandate” as grounds for halting their operations. HRW’s Africa Director, Mausi Segun, called the suspension part of an ongoing government strategy to stifle critical human rights advocacy, noting that authorities have increasingly targeted organizations that document and raise awareness of human rights abuses.
The suspension of these two groups follows a broader pattern of attacks on civil society, including the shutdown of three other human rights organizations: the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR), and the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia. Although the suspensions of CARD and LHR were temporarily lifted on December 11, 2024, these organizations were subsequently re-banned within a matter of days.
The current government crackdown signals a return to repressive tactics similar to those seen under previous Ethiopian administrations. Despite some reforms introduced by the 2019 Organization of Civil Societies Proclamation, which replaced the highly restrictive 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation, Article 77(4) of the new law still grants Ethiopian authorities broad powers to suspend organizations accused of “grave violations of the law.” Critics argue that this provision is being misused to silence political opposition and human rights advocacy.
These developments are seen as a troubling shift in Ethiopia’s recent trajectory toward more openness, raising concerns about the government’s commitment to civil liberties and the protection of fundamental rights.
Sources:
- Human Rights Watch
- Ethiopian Human Rights Council
- Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center
Picture: Ethiopian Parliament – Addis Ababa by Alan Johnston on Flickr CC BY-NC-SA 2.0
