Amnesty International flags evictions, arrests, and justice delays in Ethiopia
via The Reporter Ethiopia4 min read
Amnesty International's latest global report, "The State of the World’s Human Rights," highlights significant human rights concerns in Ethiopia. The report cites forced evictions linked to urban development projects, including the government’s Corridor Development Project Ethiopia, where thousands were displaced with short notice and limited compensation. Authorities have since temporarily suspended parts of the project in Addis Ababa and pledged improved community engagement. Amnesty also noted restrictions on civic space, detailing arbitrary arrests of journalists and harassment of activists. Proposed amendments to civil society legislation are flagged for potentially limiting foreign funding and increasing executive oversight. The report also mentions the arrest of over 140 medical workers during nationwide strikes. In conflict-affected regions like Amhara and Oromia, violations persist, and the transitional justice process remains stalled, with no significant progress on accountability for crimes during the Tigray conflict. Women and girls continue to face gender-based and conflict-related sexual violence with limited access to justice. Concerns were also raised about the treatment of refugees, with at least 600 Eritrean refugees reportedly forcibly returned. The Ethiopian government has previously stated that development projects aim to improve infrastructure and living standards, and has pointed to ongoing reform efforts, including transitional justice measures.
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
The National Election Board of Ethiopia NEBE has urged political parties that participated in the country’s seventh general election to submit complete and consolidated complaints regarding voting, vote counting, and result announcements by June 6. The NEBE stated it received complaints through various channels during voting, with some issues resolved and others under investigation. An independent team of legal experts is reviewing complaints. The Board noted that some complaints were incomplete or lacked sufficient supporting information, slowing the review process. Parties are asked to consolidate all grievances into a single submission, providing detailed information such as constituency names, polling stations, alleged violations, supporting evidence, and desired remedies. Potential complaints include voter intimidation, coercion, bribery, interference with ballot secrecy, exclusion of observers, fraudulent election documents, irregularities during vote counting, tampering with ballot boxes, improper tabulation, and delays in publishing results. Parties must also submit documentary, photographic, video, and witness evidence, and indicate if complaints were previously filed with polling station officials or grievance committees. Complainants must sign and certify the accuracy of information and include their political party's official seal. This notice was issued on June 5, 2026, as the board continues to process post-election complaints.
Must ReadNordic countries are collaborating with Ethiopia to advance its electric mobility sector through investment, technology transfer, and policy cooperation, ahead of the Nordic-Africa EV Summit in September. Swedish Ambassador to Ethiopia Magnus Lennartsson highlighted Ethiopia's role as host of the upcoming COP32 climate conference in Addis Ababa next year, emphasizing the opportunity to showcase Africa's green transition. He noted Sweden's "Climate Matchmaker" initiative, connecting African climate challenges with Nordic expertise. Norwegian Ambassador to Ethiopia Stian Christensen shared Norway's experience as a leading EV market, with 98% of new cars sold last month being electric, and encouraged Ethiopia to become a continental leader in clean transport. Mikkel Becker-Aakervik, CEO of Thought Leader Global, noted Ethiopia's rapid adoption of electric mobility, accelerated by government restrictions on fossil fuel vehicle imports. The summit aims to move beyond dialogue by establishing a matchmaking platform to connect businesses, governments, and investors. Aklilu Fikresilassie, Country Representative and Director of Cities for Africa at the World Resources Institute, stressed the importance of research and market analysis for evidence-based policymaking. Robel Seido, Vice President of the French-Ethiopian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized the need for workforce development and public awareness, advocating for youth training and technical education within the bro
Rawuda Ali, head coach of the Ethiopian U-17 Women’s National Team, expressed disappointment over her team's inability to participate in the 2026 CECAFA U-17 Women’s Championship in Tanzania. The tournament, scheduled from June 13 to 23, will feature eight countries. The Ethiopian Football Federation decided against participation due to financial constraints, with Secretary General Bahiru Tilahun reportedly stating the tournament would not add value to the national team. Ali, a former Ethiopian women’s midfielder, believes the competition would have provided crucial international exposure for her squad, which is preparing for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. She emphasized the potential of her players and the importance of such tournaments for their development and progression to the U-20 and senior national teams. Ethiopia is set to face Zambia in the final qualifying round for the World Cup. Participating countries in the CECAFA competition include Tanzania, Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan, Somalia, Zanzibar, Kenya, and Sudan.
Ethiopian theatre, once a vibrant tradition in Addis Ababa, is currently experiencing a difficult period marked by declining attendance, increasing production costs, and the rise of digital entertainment. Historic venues like the Ethiopian National Theatre and Hager Fikir Theatre now host performances only once a week, with many shows playing to largely empty halls. For example, a recent performance of Shemgay at the Ethiopian National Theatre saw only about 50 attendees in a hall designed for nearly 1,200 people. Theatre professionals attribute this decline to several factors. Actor Getenet Teka, head of the evaluation desk at the Ethiopian National Theatre, notes that urban development has shifted populations away from city centers, and media promotion for theatre has decreased due to high advertising costs. Financial strains are significant, with ticket prices at government-run theatres rising to nearly 200 birr and single productions costing over 500,000 birr to stage. This makes attendance less accessible for theatregoers like Tefera Worku, who finds ticket prices and distance deterrents. Audiences like Efrata Tsegaye also express a desire for more innovative content, finding current productions repetitive compared to the diverse options offered by digital entertainment. Director Dagmawi Amelework points to weak audience engagement, institutional bureaucracy, and slow adaptation to contemporary practices as persistent challenges. He suggests stronger government support,