The government has barred the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Defenders Center (EHRDC), putting the number of civil society organizations it has suspended since November at five.
The leaders of both CSOs announced the suspensions on December 26, 2024, three days after the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO) penned a notice passing the decision and accusing them of impartiality, irresponsibility, working against national interests, and engaging in activities outside of the scope of their stated purpose.
EHRDC has actively reported on human rights violations across the country, particularly those committed in the context of protracted armed conflicts. EHRCO was among the first CSOs established following the fall of the Derg regime. It has been licensed for 33 years.
The Authority claims to have found irregularities in EHRCO’s finances for the 2023 budget year, according to a statement issued by the CSO this week.
“EHRCO has upheld impartiality, responsibility, and has been working to ensure human rights, democracy, and rule of law. Immediately following the suspension, we attempted to communicate with the Authority to discuss how to lift the ban,” reads the statement.
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The organization denies claims it has been involved in political activities.
Both EHRDC and EHRCO stated intentions to regain legal status through communication with the Authority.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said in a statement released Friday that it finds the suspensions and the narrowing civic space “troubling.”
Last month, the Authority revoked the licenses of three prominent organizations—the Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE), the Centre for Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD), and Lawyers for Human Rights (LHR).
In late July 2024, ACSO shut down at least 1,504 organizations, citing failures to submit annual reports and renew licensing. The decision led critics to accuse the Authority of creating a climate of fear and isolation among civil society actors.
Nonetheless, the Authority’s heads brushed off criticism from international human rights bodies, who have raised the alarm over the country’s shrinking civic space.
During an event a few weeks ago, ACSO Deputy Director Fasikaw Molla told The Reporter that “only six or seven out of the 5,300 registered CSOs have been suspended” and asserted the measures do not signify a broader crackdown.
The Authority maintains that the suspensions are isolated incidents.
“It would be illogical to claim civic space is deteriorating based on these incidents,” said Fasikaw.
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