The Ethiopian Federal Police has announced plans to go after individuals and groups that it accuses of “using social media platforms to incite unrest and sow disorder.” It is unclear through what legal process, if any, the designation to “incite unrest and sow disorder” will be made. This follows a similar arbitrary crackdown against civil society in recent months.
In announcing the crackdown on social media users, the Federal Police also warned of “enhance operations” against what it termed as “media campaigns aimed at turning the country into a center of chaos and disorder.” The statement also announced that “searches and inspections will be carried out in Addis Ababa and its surroundings, in addition to all entry and exit checkpoints,” in order to identify and neutralize so-called “anti-peace forces.”
This latest decision by Abiy Ahmed and the Oromo Prosperity regime is a clear affront to fundamental human rights and liberties, including freedom of speech and due process of law. Ultimately, the decision is further proof of both the deterioration and arbitrariness of the rule of law in Ethiopia under the Abiy regime — and an indication of what experts have warned as the regime’s Orwellian and Totalitarian nature.
Ethiopian Policy Institute 