Enough is Enough: Amnesty International Demands Action as Ethiopia’s Amhara Region Faces Human Rights Crisis
Mass Arbitrary Detentions, Thousands Locked Up Without Trial—Amnesty International Demands Immediate International Action
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January 29, 2025
Ethiopia’s Amhara region is at the center of a growing humanitarian and human rights catastrophe, as thousands of civilians, judges, academics, and the elderly remain locked up in mass detention centers without charge or trial. For the past four months, the Ethiopian government has waged a sweeping crackdown under the guise of security operations, plunging the region into a state of fear and uncertainty.
Amnesty International has issued a scathing condemnation of these actions, calling on the international community to intervene. “The silence from global leaders is both deafening and shameful,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “This crisis is not just a violation of human rights—it is an affront to humanity itself.”
“The silence from global leaders is both deafening and shameful,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. “This crisis is not just a violation of human rights—it is an affront to humanity itself.”
A Region Under Siege
Since the arrests began on September 28, 2024, Ethiopian authorities have rounded up thousands of civilians in response to clashes with Amhara armed groups. Reports indicate that at least four mass detention centers are holding detainees indefinitely, many without access to due process or legal representation.
While some vulnerable groups, including the elderly and individuals with chronic illnesses, were released in January 2025, the majority remain imprisoned. Amnesty International has described these actions as systematic and oppressive, calling for the immediate release of all detainees or formal charges based on internationally recognized laws.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” Chagutah stated emphatically. “Arbitrarily detaining thousands for months without due process is a clear violation of international human rights standards.”
Broader Crackdown on Civil Freedoms
The crisis in Amhara is emblematic of a wider assault on civic freedoms in Ethiopia. Amnesty International also highlighted the Ethiopian government’s suspension of four prominent human rights organizations, including one with a 32-year legacy of advocacy. This move is seen as part of a broader effort to stifle dissent and dismantle Ethiopia’s fragile civil society.
“This is not just about Amhara,” Chagutah warned. “This crackdown threatens the entire fabric of human rights in Ethiopia, undermining efforts to build a just and democratic society.”
Call to Action
Amnesty International has called on Ethiopia’s development partners, the African Union, and the global human rights community to take immediate action. It urged the establishment of mechanisms to ensure accountability and to pressure the Ethiopian government to uphold its international obligations.
“The international community cannot afford to turn a blind eye,” Chagutah said. “Every moment of inaction is a moment of complicity.”
A Test for Global Leadership
The unfolding crisis in Amhara comes at a pivotal moment for Ethiopia, a country grappling with internal divisions and the lingering effects of conflict. Human rights defenders warn that without decisive international intervention, the situation could escalate further, jeopardizing not just the region’s stability but Ethiopia’s democratic aspirations as a whole.
The people of Amhara—and Ethiopia at large—are running out of time. Amnesty International’s plea echoes across the globe: the world must act now to end the detentions, protect civic freedoms, and hold those responsible for rights abuses accountable.
The clock is ticking. For thousands languishing in detention and an entire nation’s democratic future, the stakes could not be higher.
