Human Rights Watch has condemned Ethiopia’s suspension of three prominent rights groups, accusing authorities of closing off vital oversight.
Since November 14, the government has halted the activities of the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). Officials claim these organizations exhibit political bias and undermine national interests.
Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch, described the move as a severe blow to human rights advocacy in Ethiopia. “Ethiopian authorities are squeezing shut whatever space remains for independent rights groups to operate in the country,” she said in a statement.
The organizations maintain their neutrality, asserting the government targeted them after they criticized proposed changes to Ethiopia’s media law. These amendments would place the media authority under the prime minister’s direct control, raising concerns about press freedom.
The latest suspensions echo past actions against rights groups, both domestic and international, for criticizing Ethiopia’s handling of the 2020-2022 Tigray war. That devastating conflict claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and drew widespread international condemnation.
The ongoing unrest in Amhara and Oromia, Ethiopia’s most populous regions, adds to the complexity. Federal forces continue to confront armed militias, deepening the nation’s instability.
Bader urged the global community to act decisively, saying, “Concerned governments should not remain passive observers to Ethiopia’s deepening repression. Swift condemnation and concrete pressure are needed.”
As the Horn of Africa nation of 120 million people grapples with internal strife, the silencing of watchdog organizations threatens to obscure the truth. Observers warn that this move risks isolating Ethiopia further from the international community.
