Ethiopian Rights Commission Reports Ongoing Abuses Despite Progress in Some Areas

Ethiopia continued to face serious human rights violations during the year to June 2026, including killings, arbitrary detentions, enforced disappearances and restrictions on media freedom, despite progress in some areas, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has reported.

In its fifth annual human rights situation report, the commission documented abuses linked to armed conflicts and recurring security problems across several regions, as well as gaps in accountability, access to justice and protection for vulnerable groups.

Fighting between government forces and armed groups commonly known as Fano and Qemant persisted in parts of Amhara, while clashes between government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army, also known as OLF-Shane, continued in parts of Oromia. The commission said the violence caused civilian deaths and injuries, damaged property and displaced communities.

Attacks and recurring security problems also affected Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella, South Ethiopia, Central Ethiopia and Somali regions, with government actors, armed groups and unidentified perpetrators implicated in incidents resulting in deaths and injuries.

The report also documented arbitrary detentions in conflict-affected areas, including arrests in Amhara on grounds described as “current affairs” or allegations of supporting armed groups. In parts of Oromia, security forces detained people, including children, under the pretext of military recruitment. Forced conscription was also reported in parts of Tigray, affecting young people, internally displaced people and individuals with mental health conditions.

Abductions for ransom were reported in Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Gambella and Oromia. The commission said hostages unable to pay were frequently subjected to serious abuses, including killing. It also recorded complaints of enforced disappearances in parts of Amhara, South Ethiopia and Oromia.

The findings come alongside some improvements in detention conditions. During the reporting period, the EHRC monitored 98 prisons, 649 police stations and 10 unofficial detention facilities. It noted progress in bringing suspects before courts within 48 hours, expanding detention infrastructure and improving access to medical services and clean drinking water in some institutions.

However, unlawful arrests without warrants, prolonged pre-trial detention and failures by police and security forces to comply with court orders granting bail or release remained widespread, the report said.

The commission received 1,805 complaints from 2,046 individuals during the reporting period. Civil and political rights accounted for 56.1 percent of complaints, with the most common concerns involving the treatment of people in custody, deprivation of liberty, delays in trials and violations of the right to life. Law enforcement agencies accounted for the largest share of complaints.

Media freedom remained another area of concern. Although budgetary, logistical and capacity-building support to state and private media outlets helped strengthen their operations, the commission documented the enforced disappearance and pre-trial detention of journalists, restrictions on reporting human rights violations and requirements for journalists to obtain permission to access information.

In Addis Ababa, some media owners were also forced to broadcast content driven solely by the commercial interests of sponsors and advertisers, the report said.

The commission identified improvements in the environment for political parties ahead of the seventh national election. Restrictions on party activities eased, while revised electoral and political party laws established a framework intended to improve participation by women, young people and persons with disabilities.

However, disruptions to internet and mobile network services interfered with candidate registration. Many polling stations remained inaccessible to persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups, while sign-language interpretation and accessible printed materials were lacking.

Social and economic rights also came under pressure as conflict, road closures, natural disasters and fuel shortages contributed to rising living costs. In Tigray, disruptions to fuel and cash supplies, alongside delays in government salary payments, worsened living conditions. Floods, earthquakes and landslides caused deaths and damage to homes, crops and infrastructure in several regions.

Access to education remained a pressing concern, particularly in Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Somali, Oromia, South Ethiopia and Tigray. Conflict, natural disasters, damaged schools, shortages of teachers and educational materials, and inadequate water and sanitation facilities prevented many children from attending classes. The commission warned that exclusion from education increased children’s exposure to child marriage, labour exploitation and unsafe migration.

The report also highlighted continuing violations of women’s and children’s rights. Female genital mutilation remained prevalent in parts of Harari and Somali regions despite awareness campaigns, with the practice often carried out secretly during school closures and fasting periods. Gaps in protections for domestic workers and agricultural workers included inadequate sanitation, shortages of protective equipment, delayed wages and unpaid maternity leave.

Displaced people and refugees faced additional risks as humanitarian funding declined. The suspension of asylum-seeker registration left thousands of undocumented refugees in Addis Ababa and other areas exposed to unlawful detention, human trafficking, labour exploitation and violence. Internally displaced people faced inadequate food assistance, involuntary returns and relocation, fees for essential identification services, and landmine risks in conflict-affected areas.

Despite these challenges, the commission cited several positive developments. These included peace agreements with armed groups in Benishangul-Gumuz, reconciliation and compensation following conflict in the Dewele area of Somali region, and the release of more than 729 detainees following pardons and the conditional dropping of charges. The EHRC said its advocacy had contributed to the releases.

The commission also noted progress in Ethiopia’s National Dialogue process, which completed its preparatory stages and moved through the National Dialogue Assembly. However, the formal implementation of transitional justice remained suspended indefinitely during the reporting period, despite the government’s stated intention to resume it after the dialogue.

The EHRC called on the government and all armed actors to resolve conflicts peacefully, ensure accountability for human rights violations and provide compensation and rehabilitation for victims. It also urged authorities to prevent arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance, improve conditions for people in custody, expand access to health and rehabilitation services, and address legal and institutional gaps that leave people vulnerable to abuse.

Source: FSX Business News