Posted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
by Hanna Blyth, Fragile States Index
Since the end of an almost two-decades long civil war that began in 1991, the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) has provided relative political stability and enabled strong economic development. Though an inter-state conflict with Eritrea over disputed territory flared in 1998-2000, since the ceasefire was declared between the two countries in December 2000, Ethiopia has been on a path of strong fiscal growth and has become an increasingly respected player within the international community. Ethiopia’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has risen from US$8.2 billion in 2000, to an impressive US$61.5 billion in 2015 – coinciding with major injections of foreign capital from development partners. Looking past these golden dollar sign headlines, however, there are signals that deep social and political fissures have the potential to set the country back on a path to conflict.
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Golden era of growth fails to mask deeper grievances in Ethiopia
22 Jun
How State Restrictions Are Reshaping Civic Space Around the World: The Case of Ethiopia Under Rogue TPLF Included
26 MayPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
by Saskia Brechernmacher, The Carnegie Endowment for International Peace May 22, 2017
“In addition to heightened administrative and legal harassment, activists fear prosecution under sweeping anti-terrorism measures. Ethiopian authorities have used the 2009 Anti-Terror Proclamation to selectively target journalists, lawyers, and civil society leaders…In Ethiopia, the 2009 Charities and Societies Proclamation effectively bars a wide range of advocacy and rights organizations from receiving external support—while preserving access to such funding for development and service delivery organizations…In Ethiopia, hundreds of organization decided to abandon rights-based programming and shift their focus toward politically neutral capacity-building and local service delivery in order to preserve their access to foreign support. A 2011 survey found that 70% of development NGOs and 44% of human rights organizations changed their mandates and activities in response to the government’s NGO regulations.
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Ethiopia’s Bloody Crackdown: The Case for International Justice
19 AprPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
by Felix Horne, Huffington Post
Ethiopian security forces gunned down at least 100 people a week ago in the bloodiest weekend in the ninth month of anti-government protests. Unlike previous protests, which have been largely confined to the Oromia region, the protests on August 6 and 7 were also in the northern Amhara region. Altogether at least 500 people have been killed since November and tens of thousands have been detained during the largely peaceful protests.
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Repressive TPLF regime court rules two Zone9 bloggers to face charges of inciting violence
7 AprPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
CPJ Statement
Ethiopia’s Supreme Court today ruled that two bloggers from the Zone 9 collective, previously acquitted of terrorism charges, should be tried instead on charges of inciting violence through their writing. If convicted of the charge, Atnaf Berhane and Natnail Feleke would face a maximum prison sentence of 10 years, according to the Addis Standard newspaper.
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Why is Western media ignoring ongoing atrocity in Ethiopia?
6 AprPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
by Lys Anzia*, The Huffington Post
She spoke to me with tears in her eyes describing the calculated execution of her own people. Even though Atsede Kazachew feels relatively safe as an Ethnic Amharic Ethiopian woman living inside the United States, she is grieving for all her fellow ethnic Ethiopians both Amharic and Omoro who have been mercilessly killed inside her own country.
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Tampere University of Technology sought to honor Ethiopian tyrant with honorary degree – its opponents expect an apology
30 MarPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
by Mikko Paakkanen* Helsingin Sanomat
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The Tampere University of Technology (TUT) was about to honor the Ethiopian tyrant with honorary doctorate degree. This action by the university has caused offense and there is a feeling apology is in order.
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US Congressional Hearing: Democracy Under threat in Ethiopia
11 MarPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
Subcommittee Hearing: Democracy Under Threat in Ethiopia
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Thursday’s Human Rights Watch Statement on Ethiopia to US Congress
10 MarPosted by The Ethiopia Observatory (TEO)
Chairman Smith, Ranking Member Bass, members of the Subcommittee: thank you for holding this important hearing on the current situation in Ethiopia and for inviting me to testify. I am pleased to be a part of it.
Ethiopia is a country of dual realities. Visitors and diplomats alike are impressed with the double-digit economic growth, the progress on development indicators, and the apparent political stability. But in many ways, this is a smokescreen: many Ethiopians live in fear. The current government – the only one since 1991 – runs the country with an almost complete grip on power, controlling almost all aspects of political, public, and even much private life. Pervasive telephone and online surveillance and an intricate network of informants allow the government to quickly curb any threats to its control; it silences critical voices through the use of arbitrary arrests and politically motivated prosecutions. These actions also prevent critical and divergent views as many who may be impacted by these harsh policies fear repercussions.
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