Introduction
In January 2025, Amnesty International urged civil society organisations to demand urgent action following the arbitrary detention of thousands in Ethiopia's Amhara region. On 28th September 2024, security forces, including the Ethiopian army and Amhara regional units, rounded up thousands and detained them in four mass detention centres. The detainees included judges, prosecutors, and academics. While authorities released some detainees, including four judiciary workers in October 2024, and hundreds in January 2025, thousands remain in detention.
Tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea have been rising over Ethiopia's push for maritime access and the political turmoil in its northernmost region, Tigray, sparking fears of another conflict. Concerns persist despite Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's assurances that Ethiopia seeks access to the Red Sea through dialogue (although Prime Minister Abiy has repeatedly stressed that breaking Ethiopia’s landlocked status and securing a coastline is a “vital interest”). In February 2025, Human Rights Concern - Eritrea (HRCE) warned of forced conscription as Eritrea mobilised citizens under the age of 60 for military re-training. In March, reports emerged of Ethiopian troop movements near Eritrea's border, though officials have not clarified their intent. Eritrean Foreign Minister Osman Saleh urged the international community to demand that Ethiopia respect its neighbours' sovereignty and territorial integrity, criticising its push for maritime access as outdated and misguided.
Association
Ethiopia’s Authority for Civil Society Organisations (ACSO) has suspended, reinstated and, in some cases, re-suspended several civil society organisations (CSOs) over alleged neutrality and governance standards violations. On 11th December 2024, ACSO lifted the suspension of three organisations, the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR). As previously documented on the Monitor, the organisations had been suspended for allegedly lacking "political neutrality" and acting "against the national interest." However, on 17th December 2024, ACSO reinstated the suspension of CARD and LHR, citing failure to "learn from past mistakes" and implement corrective measures. CARD stated that the resuspension was unexpected, as it had not resumed its activities since the initial ban was lifted.
On 25th December 2024, ACSO suspended two more organisations, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC). EHRDC was accused of deviating from its founding objectives, lacking independence, and failing to ensure transparency in its structure. EHRCO faced allegations of exceeding administrative spending limits and failing to maintain independence. Both organisations rejected the claims, asserting their compliance with the law and criticising ACSO's evaluation process as lacking legitimacy. Following sustained advocacy, and as a group of over 30 states delivered a joint statement on the situation in Ethiopia at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, ACSO lifted the suspensions on 3rd March 2025. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stated that it had engaged with ACSO, government authorities, and the affected CSOs to push for reinstatements, leading to a successful outcome. Civil society organisations have warned, however, that the lifting of suspensions might be temporary and that civic space restrictions remained in place.
Indeed, the repeated suspensions have raised concerns about civil society's operational space in Ethiopia, with organisations calling for clearer regulations and fairer evaluation processes. Increasing restrictions on civic space and the lack of accountability for targeting human rights defenders (HRDs) undermine freedoms and weaken democratic oversight.
On 10th February 2025, Ethiopian opposition politician Lidetu Ayalew accused the government of imposing a travel ban and attempting to seize his property. He was barred from boarding a flight from Atlanta to Ethiopia after Ethiopian Airlines informed him that the government had instructed airlines to deny him entry. Lidetu described the move as "politically motivated" and aimed at preventing opposition figures from participating in upcoming elections. Lidetu was imprisoned for five months in 2020 despite multiple court rulings ordering his release. He was previously blocked from travelling abroad for medical treatment and only left Ethiopia with support from human rights organisations and a court order.
Expression
On 9th March 2025, security forces detained Yohannes Tessema, a Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Council representative and member of the Boro Democratic Party (BDP). Before the arrest, authorities stopped Yohannes and two other council members at Asosa Airport while en route to Addis Ababa to discuss the petition. The arrest came days after BDP petitioned Ethiopia's Council of Constitutional Inquiry on 24th February 2025, challenging recent amendments to the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Constitution. The amendments expanded council seats from 99 to 165, dissolved three electoral districts, and created five new ones. BDP argues that the council lacks the authority to make such changes, which should fall under the jurisdiction of the House of Federation and the National Election Board. On 6th March 2025, the Benishangul-Gumuz Regional Government Communications Affairs Bureau accused BDP leaders of inciting unrest and dismissed their petition, warning that authorities would take legal action to maintain order.
On 18th March 2025, authorities presented Yohannes Tessema in court after revoking his parliamentary immunity. They accused him of using social media to incite conflict, harm the reputation of the Benishangul-Gumuz region and its council, and fuel ethnic divisions. Officials also alleged that he had links to groups seeking to overthrow the government by force.