Armed Conflict, Recurring Insecurity Threatens Right To Life: EHRC Report

7.8 million children out of school in 2024/5

Ongoing armed conflicts and recurring security instability across several regions of Ethiopia have resulted in severe violations of the right to life and personal security, according to the fourth Annual Human Rights Situation Report released by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) on January 9, 2026.

The Commission’s findings, which cover the period from June 2024 to June 2025, document extensive civilian casualties and bodily injuries arising from active hostilities between government forces and armed groups.

The Commission gathered evidence through interviews, group discussions, on-site observations, and document analysis to compile the annual report.

The Report Notes That Armed Conflics in the Amhara and Oromia regions caused civilian deaths and injuries during the fiscal year. The Casualties, according to the report, Occurred during the attacks involving government forces, specially the fan in amhara and the Oromo Liberation Army, Commonly known as “Olf Shene,” in Oromia.

The EHRC report states that civilians were killed and injured in crossfire incidents in Amhara, while in Oromia, individuals not taking part in hostilities were subjected to killings, injuries, property destruction, and abductions.

“In this fiscal year, the Oromo Liberation Army continued kidnapping passengers traveling to Addis Ababa, demanding huge amounts of ransom and committing numerous human rights violations, including killing of hostages who were unable to pay the requested ransom,” the report says.

It added that similar violations linked to kidnapping were recorded in other regions affected by insecurity.

Beyond Amhara and Oromia, The Commission Documented Deaths, Injures, and Destruction of Property Linked to Attacks by Government Forces, Armed Groups, and United Actors in Parts of Central Ethiopia, South Ethiopia, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Gambella, where insecurity remained remained remained remained

The Commission also raised concerns over detention conditions and access for monitoring.

While EHRC is mandated to monitor detention centers, conflict, insecurity, and denial of access limited its work in several areas, reads the report.

“The main challenges faced by EHRC in respect of detention monitoring are conflict, lack of security and denial of access to conduct monitoring in detention centers in areas affected by conflicts,” reads the report, noting that only five prisons were monitored in Amhara during the reporting period.

It notes that overcrowding, lack of food, and allegations of torture and ill-treatment remain serious issues in Ethiopia’s prison system.

On civic space, the report cautioned that proposed amendments to the Civil Society Organizations Proclamation should not undermine participation in key national processes, including transitional justice, national dialogue, and the 2026 general elections.

The report stressed that any amendments “should be based on research-driven and meaningful participation of civil society organizations and all stakeholders” and aligned with human rights standards to avoid narrowing freedom of association.

The report also addressed media freedom following the April 2025 amendment to the Media Proclamation.

In the report, EHRC said it provided detailed comments to lawmakers, emphasizing that “the right to freedom of expression can be meaningfully protected only when the media can effectively fulfill their role in a democratic society.”

It also underlined the need for an independent and impartial media regulatory body, protected from political and economic interference, particularly in licensing and oversight.

The annual report further stated that socio-economic rights were also affected by conflict, inflation, restricted movement, and natural disasters.

EHRC reported that more than 7.8 million students were out of school nationwide during the 2024/2025 academic year, with over 3,700 schools non-functional in Amhara alone due to conflict.

“Out-of-school children, especially girls, were found to be at heightened risk of early marriage, labor exploitation, and other abuses,” reads the report, adding that more than 1.9 million malaria cases, over 4,000 cholera cases, and nearly 4,000 measles cases were recorded between January and April 2025.

Addressing displacement, EHRC warned that many internally displaced persons remain in prolonged displacement without durable solutions, citing the more than 79,000 people displaced since 2012 in South Omo Zone’s Dasenach Woreda, living in multiple camps.

While acknowledging some positive steps on transitional justice and international engagement, the Commission urged authorities to respect human rights and humanitarian law, seek peaceful solutions to conflicts, and ensure accountability and assistance for affected communities.