Human Rights Under Siege: How security forces in Oromia fuel terror, fear to control residents through lawlessness

  In mid-January 2025, Human Rights Watch (HRW) published its overview of the human rights situation in Ethiopia for 2024. The report stated that human rights continue to be violated, pointing to extrajudicial killings, unlawful imprisonments, arbitrary arrests, attacks on civilians, and restrictions on freedoms of expression. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) moreover reported that Ethiopia is among the worst jailers of journalists in Africa. The Freedom House ranked Ethiopia as “not free” in 2023, and the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index for 2024 ranked Ethiopia at 134th place (of 142 countries).

These reports are, unfortunately, similar to those issued over the last years and read like “business as usual” in Ethiopia. This is, I argue, not the case. I believe that the human rights situation is not only significantly worse, but also that the reasons, motivations, and nature of human rights violations are new and quite unprecedented. Yet again, the international community ignores what is going on and is without much hesitation supporting the sitting Abiy Ahmed government and its copious projects on urban beautification.

On 14 January, prominent Oromo Politician Jawar Mohammed asked his Facebook followers to send stories and pictures of murders committed by militia members. In response, numerous stories were posted, not only accounting for killings but also on how the militia and local administrators were harassing, extorting money, and arresting people on a daily basis. A few days later, a video showing a young boy being executed point-blank by uniformed men was shared on social media. Since then, additional videos of a young boy being executed have appeared on social media.

Claims shared on social media should always be treated carefully, but in this case the posts speak to a pattern and, moreover, confirm findings from my own recent research on human rights violations in Oromia. What has emerged is a situation without law and order where government agencies at the grassroots level are acting with little or no accountability and culpability in harassing people. Rampant corruption and impunity are key drivers here, and the region’s insecurity has made labeling people as supporters of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) a rewarding means to extract money. The central government’s demands for increased revenues have exacerbated the situation as tax collection has become similar to criminal extortion schemes. Control is, in other words, maintained through lawlessness, and security is preserved through insecurity.

While the Reuters report was detailed and revealing, it failed to understand that the Koree Nageenyaa is not only one committee at the regional level but something replicated at zonal and district levels throughout Oromia, working in parallel to institutions like the Bulchiinsaa Nageenyaa. It usually has five members, and at the district level, it consists of the district head, the head of the district security office, the police chief, and others. The Koree Nageenyaa operates as a rather informal institution, coming together on an ad hoc basis at the different levels. While its jurisdiction is unclear, what is apparent is that the very structure of the Koree Nageenyaa has enabled the government to enact security measures far removed from the public eye.

The current government’s mechanisms for control are far cruder and blunter compared with the era of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF). Particularly important and directly affecting people’s lives at the grassroots level are the local militias and the so-called Gaachana Sirnaa. The militia has its root in the abiot tebeqa  created during the Derg period. What is new is the establishment of a separate Office of the Militia in Oromia in 2021, the subsequent growth in the number of militias, and the extended authority they are given. Members of the militia are given uniforms—for which the local people are forced to pay—and are sometimes armed.

 The local militia can label anyone for being an OLA supporter and collect money. The common phrase is that “someone comes to you and says that we have credible information that you have links to this and that organization.” No further evidence is needed, and everybody knows it is about money. Refusal to pay easily leads to arrests, and the collaboration between local law enforcement agencies and government offices ensures the person remains in jail. Once there, “you don’t get out unless you pay.” One source told the story about a relative who was detained, accused of having links to OLA, but “the real reason was that they needed money from him… I had to pay 45,000 birr to have him released.”

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) also documented how boys as young as 11 years old across Oromia had been subject to enforced conscription. As different zones and districts had been given quotas of boys to be recruited, local officials had to resort to forced conscription in order to meet the target. The military does not normally accept enforced conscripts, but those rounded up are often reluctant to report their cases, being afraid of reactions from local officials when they are sent back to their home areas.

Rampant corruption is a key reason for the current situation. While both the Derg and the EPRDF governments invested much in combating corruption, mechanisms put in place to curtail this loosened after 2018, and recent studies show that corruption has become a major problem in Ethiopia. Transparency International ranked Ethiopia 98th (of 180) on its corruption index in 2023, and increased public corruption is said to have “strongly affected socioeconomic development and governance.” Interlocutors across Oromia all testified to corruption being present at all levels, becoming “part of the official system,” and something “out of control.” As a result, it has become nearly impossible to get any public services without paying bribes.

It is difficult to exaggerate the impact of these tax increases, which come at a time when a worsening economic situation had already severely affected people’s livelihoods. Inflation has remained high and salaries stagnant, and while inflation has eased some over the last year, it has contributed to a poverty rate of ca. 69%, and estimations said that inflation would drive an additional 10 million people into poverty during 2024.

While this alone has created a nearly unbearable situation for ordinary people, the current situation with lack of law and order and rampant corruption has significantly exacerbated the conditions. The new tax regime has created opportunities for local authorities to overcharge the people at will. This is particularly true in the rural areas, and one source described the conditions as: “There is no law at all; it’s anarchy… anybody can ask for anything.”

 This new situation has not only led to an increase of human rights violations, but they have created a situation of unpredictability and randomness. While people with certain profiles previously would be considered at risk, this is not the case anymore. Anyone can be targeted. The current situation of lawlessness is moreover untenable, and the critical question is where people’s breaking point is. 

Ethiopia among worst jailers of journalists in Africa, CPJ says; six detained, five face terrorism charges

 Ethiopia has been listed among the worst jailers of journalists in Africa, with six journalists detained—five of whom are facing “terrorism” charges that could carry death sentences, according to the 2024 prison census by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), released Thursday.

CPJ reports that the sixth journalist, Yeshihasab Abera, was arrested in September 2024 during what authorities described as a “law enforcement operation” amidst “escalating tensions” and “mass arrests”in the region .

CPJ highlighted that Ethiopian authorities frequently employ “often-vague charges or convictions for terrorism or extremism” to imprison journalists.

Across Africa, Eritrea ranked as the worst offender, with 16 journalists imprisoned since the early 2000s without formal charges. Cameroon and Rwanda followed with five detained each, while Nigeria recorded four.

Globally, China led the list with 50 detained journalists, followed by Israel (43), Myanmar (35), Belarus (31), and Russia (30). CPJ documented at least 361 journalists imprisoned worldwide as of December 1, 2024, marking the second-highest total in its records.

In November 2024, CPJ’s five-year report presented at the UN’s Human Rights Council report revealed a significant decline in press freedom since Ethiopia’s last review. The report also addressed the lack of accountability in the killings of two journalists, physical assaults on media professionals, forced closures of media outlets, and restrictions on international journalists. “These rankings point to a broader concern. Over the last five years, Ethiopia has entrenched a pattern of arbitrarily detaining journalists,” CPJ warned, detailing the intesification of press freedom decline in Ethiopia compounded by arrests and exile of journalists amid political turmoil.

In its 2023 prison census, CPJ had designated Ethiopia as the third-worst country in Africa for the incarceration of journalists, with the tally of imprisoned Ethiopian journalists surging to eight that year.

Escalating conflict in Oromia’s Darra district exposes women, children to gender-based violence; displaced households left without livelihoods

 For years, the Darra district in the North Shewa Zone has been a hotspot of conflict within the Oromia region.

The district has been hit by waves of violence involving government forces and armed groups operating in both neighboring Amhara and Oromia regional states.

According to a recent report , the conflict in Darra has claimed the lives of at least 43 civilians since July 2024.

The recent brutal beheading of a young man in Darra, which has sparked widespread outrage, serves as further evidence of the ongoing instability and escalating violence in the district.

However, the violence in Darra is not a new phenomenon. For years, residents have expressed growing concern over the deteriorating security situation and have repeatedly called for urgent intervention by authorities to restore peace and protect civilians.

The conflict in Derra has taken a particularly harsh toll on women and women-headed households, who face challenges such as killings, gender-based violence including rape, and displacement, incapacitating them from providing for their children.

Zewditu Terefe, 41, is among the many displaced individuals from Ganda Koro Barbare Kebele in the Darra district—a place where she was born, raised, married, and nurtured her five children.

Since their displacement, life has been unbearable for Zewditu and her family.

“More than a year has passed, but there’s no sign of us returning home,” she explained. “We currently live in a plastic shelter with no access to food, proper housing, or medical care.”

Her children, too, face bleak prospects.

“They’re out of school because there’s no temporary education center in Merhabete,” she said. “I live with anxiety and depression, constantly worrying about their future and our survival.”

Gadise Tolamariam, 37, from Jiru Dada Kebele in the Derra district, also faced a similar fate. Nearly two years ago, she was forcibly displaced from her home due to escalating attacks.

Now a mother of four, Gadise faces overwhelming challenges.

“I am struggling to feed my children, and my two youngest are suffering from malaria, but there’s no clinic to treat them. My daughter is also battling measles,” she explained. “We are relying on traditional medicine to cope, as there is no assistance from the government or humanitarian organizations.”

Neither the Oromia nor the federal government has provided a humanitarian response to the crisis in the Darra district or the region in general.

 The government must create a conducive environment for internally displaced people to receive humanitarian assistance from international and non-governmental organizations.

Furthermore the government must recognize the internally displaced people from the Darra district.

Human Right reports forced conscription, arbitrary detentions and extortion in Oromia with victims including minors as young as 11

 Rights Commission (EHRC) has reported cases of forced conscription and arbitrary detentions in Oromia Regional State, accusing regional authorities of engaging in unlawful practices, including extortion targeting civilians, with victims as young as 11.

The investigation, released on December 5, 2024, was conducted between November 13 and 29, 2024. The EHRC investigation focused on detention centers in Adama, Bishoftu, Jimma, and Shashamane. Evidence was collected from detainees, their families, and local government officials.

The commission revealed, “Individuals were detained against their will under the pretext of military recruitment, and in some cases, were held until families paid for their release.”

One family in Adama reported being asked to pay 30,000 birr for the release of their 16-year-old son, who had been detained while at work.

The investigation also uncovered the detention of minors under the pretense of military recruitment. In Shashemene, the EHRC identified 14 minors aged between 15 and 16, as well as one child as young as 11, among the 32 detainees interviewed. Two 15-year-old students recounted, “When leaving school, someone promised us 25,000 birr if we joined the military. We were then taken to a detention center in Halu district, where we were not allowed to leave.”

In Adama, extortion practices were also documented. A 15-year-old boy was detained while running errands and held in a storage facility until his family paid 20,000 birr. “They told us we had to pay, or our son would be sent for military training,” the boy’s mother told the commission.

The EHRC reported that families across Oromia were coerced into paying amounts ranging from 20,000 to 100,000 birr to secure the release of their relatives.

The commission found evidence of detentions violating Ethiopia’s constitutional guarantees under Article 17, which prohibits arbitrary detention, and international treaties prohibiting forced recruitment. Military recruitment regulations under Proclamation No. 1286/2015 require enlistment to be voluntary and restricted to individuals aged 18 to 24.

There is also similar allegations of forced conscription in Oromia, with security forces allegedly targeting youth and detaining individuals who refused to enlist. Families were reportedly coerced into paying large sums to secure the release of relatives or risk them being sent for military training.

A mother from Adama City recounted how her 17-year-old son was detained while street vending and told he would be “sent to a military training camp” unless she paid 30,000 birr. Similar reports from other areas described youth being “rounded up” and taken to training camps or unknown locations.

The EHRC also highlighted the involvement of local officials in unlawful detentions, noting that defense force personnel and regional administrators collaborated to meet recruitment quotas. “Evidence indicates that certain officials exploited military conscription processes for financial gain, coercing families into paying for releases,” the commission said.

Oromia regional government and the Ministry of Defense must release all unlawfully detained individuals and ensure recruitment processes are conducted transparently and in compliance with established regulations. “Future recruitment must fully respect human rights and adhere to the rule of law,”.

Dozens detained for months without court appearances in Oromia’s Horo Guduru Wollega over alleged ties to OLA; families report abuse

  More than 130 civilians have reportedly been detained for over seven months without court appearances at Obora Police Station in Amuru district in Horo Guduru Wollega Zone of the Oromia region on allegations of “having family ties with Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) members,” according to family members.

Debela Tesfaye, a resident of Nafuro Kebel in Amuru district, reported that his father, Tesfaye Beyana, and mother, Dosa Tolera, were among those detained.

According to Debela, his father, who has no knowledge of his son’s phone number or whereabouts, is a farmer with no political involvement. He noted that his parents have now been held for seven months without a court appearance.

Debela further shared that his mother, Dosa Tolera, was detained on 08 November, 2024, after militia members entered their home and initially “asked her to prepare food.” After she complied but could not provide additional food, the militia detained her, allegedly subjecting her to “offensive insults and physical abuse in front of her children” before transferring her to Obora Police Station, where she remains without court proceedings.

Debela expressed concern for his father’s health, describing how his father, who suffers from high blood pressure, was initially “denied access to medical assistance” when his condition worsened. 

Another resident, Dereje Tolosa, shared a similar account regarding his father, Tolosa Sori, who was detained on April 16, 2024, due to alleged ties between his son and the OLA.

Dereje described his 67-year-old father, a “peaceful resident with no political connections,” as being “beaten and mistreated” during his transfer to Obora Police Station, where he has been held for seven months without a court appearance. Dereje emphasized that his father has “no knowledge of his son’s current location” and added that his brother, as an adult, should be responsible for his own actions.

Dereje also reported that another detainee, Kena Tola, died in August 2024 from “severe injuries sustained during detention” and alleged denial of medical care.

Residents of Horo Guduru Wollega Zone have also faced forced conscription under “Gachana Sirna,” a regional militia recruitment system that reportedly required farmers to undergo militia training to access agricultural supplies. 

Rights group urges action after documenting 52 cases of enforced disappearances, arbitrary detentions

  Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called for urgent action to ensure accountability and justice after documenting 52 cases of enforced disappearances and arbitrary detentions between July 2023 and October 2024, with detentions occurring in military camps and undisclosed locations outside Addis Abeba.

In a report released on 23 October 2024, the EHRC outlined cases from regions including Addis Abeba, and Oromia. The report detailed how individuals were taken from their homes or workplaces by security forces, often in unmarked vehicles and in the presence of witnesses.

According to the report, some detainees were moved from regular detention facilities to unofficial sites, even after court proceedings had started. Several individuals were reportedly transferred between locations, often blindfolded during transport.

“I was held in solitary confinement for 1 month and 20 days and saw around 60 other people detained in the same place,” said Mechemegeta Andualem, who was released in March 2024 after seven months in what he described as the “Russian Camp” military barracks.

The investigation uncovered a pattern of financial extortion, with some families reportedly paying large bribes to secure the release of detainees. The report highlighted instances where security officers, including one with the rank of major, demanded significant sums from detainees’ families.

The report further found that many detainees were held without formal charges and denied access to legal representation. Some described being confined in facilities lacking basic infrastructure, while others reported threats and physical abuse during interrogations.

Another former detainee, who requested anonymity, described being held in a 2×2 meter dark cell for 16 days without windows or lights, following his detention at Sar Bet Square. He was interrogated every two days regarding alleged links to opposition groups.

The report also documents the transfer of detainees to locations such as Awash Arba, where detainees faced extreme heat, insufficient food, and inadequate sleeping conditions. In several instances, families secured the release of detainees after making payments, often in remote areas.

One detainee reported being moved through multiple sites, including the Oromia Regional Office compound in Qera, and locations along the road to Mexico via Bulgaria Square, before reaching a final detention site.

The report indicates that the Commission’s repeated attempts to obtain responses from the Ministry of Defense regarding detentions in military facilities have been unsuccessful.

The Commission urged an end to the practice of holding individuals in unofficial detention centers, noting the lack of oversight and the inhumane conditions in these facilities.

These practices not only violate the human rights of the victims but also cause significant social and economic harm to their families.

Oromia's Guji zones ravaged by conflict, civilians trapped amid human rights abuses

 The Oromia region has been plagued by a militarized conflict for the past six years, with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and federal as well as regional security forces locked in a protracted battle. Despite two rounds of peace talks to silence the guns, the conflict shows no signs of abating, leaving local communities caught in the crossfire and many displaced.

The Guji and West Guji zones have become the epicenter of this violence, bearing the brunt of severe human rights abuses and widespread destruction. These areas have suffered some of the heaviest consequences since the conflict began, with extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and mass arrests becoming disturbingly common.

The human rights crisis in the region has been further exacerbated by the government’s decision in February 2023 to restructure administrative boundaries, leading to widespread unrest. This decision resulted in the creation of the East Borana zone from parts of the Guji, Bale, and Borana zones and ignited protests that were met with violent crackdowns by security forces.

A recent report by the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) highlights the extent of these violations.  According to the report, government forces have engaged in cycles of violence.

Amidst this violence, the toll on ordinary lives is deeply felt by those affected, as personal stories unveil the broader human rights violations that afflict the region.

One such story is that of Dureti Jirma, an 18-year-old student who has twice been a victim of this conflict. In December 2021, while walking home from school in the Goro Dola district ,a former district of Guji now part of East Borana zone, Dureti was assaulted by members of government forces. “They attacked me so violently that I lost consciousness,” she recalls. Local women found her and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she received emergency treatment.

The trauma of the assault forced Dureti to halt her education for nearly a year as she struggled to recover physically and emotionally. With the support of family and hospital staff, she eventually resumed her studies in October 2022, determined to move forward.

However, sexual violence is one of many harrowing human rights abuses that residents of the Guji zones endure daily. Across the the Guji and west Guji zones, civilians endure a broader pattern of abuse, including arbitrary detentions and brutal interrogations.

The story of Jarso Wako (name changed), a 28-year-old lecturer at Bule Hora University and resident of West Guji, illustrates the impact of this conflict on ordinary citizens.

On  07 July , 2024, his life was upended when police officers surrounded his rented home in Bule Hora town. “Two officers came inside and called me outside. As soon as I stepped out, one slapped me, and the other kicked me,” he recalled. The officers dragged him to a waiting Land Cruiser and took him to a military camp at Bule Hora University.

At the camp, Jarso endured hours of interrogation and mistreatment. “They accused me of organizing protests and inciting unrest, but the charges were completely fabricated,” he explained. After the camp, he was transferred to the Bule Hora City police station, where he was held for two weeks in harsh conditions.

When his case finally reached the district court, the judge ordered his release due to a lack of evidence. However, the police ignored the ruling and transferred him to the West Guji zonal court, where the same charges were reviewed. Once again, the court ordered his release, but Jarso remained in detention for a total of 65 days before he was finally freed.

According to CARD’s report, arbitrary detentions like Jarso’s are common, particularly among the youth, who are often held without due process in overcrowded detention centers. The conflict has created a climate of fear, where anyone can be detained or mistreated at any moment.

Marga Fekadu, a human rights researcher and lecturer at Wolkite University, has spent years documenting these abuses. He describes the region as scarred by the conflict, with human rights violations woven into the fabric of daily life.

“The region has experienced multiple states of emergency, both official and unofficial, creating an atmosphere of constant fear and instability,” Marga noted.

He stressed that the suffering of those living in the Guji zones often goes unnoticed by the outside world. “The consequences are far-reaching, yet too often ignored,” he said, drawing attention to the silence surrounding the crisis.

The impact of the conflict, however, extends to entire communities that have been profoundly affected, with many towns and neighborhoods disrupted since the outbreak of violence.