Ethiopia’s Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has raised alarm over 52 reported cases of forced disappearances and arbitrary detentions, urging swift action to ensure accountability and justice.
The report, released on October 23, 2024, sheds light on serious human rights violations in the regions of Addis Ababa, Amhara, and Oromia.
According to the EHRC, individuals were forcibly taken from their homes or workplaces by security forces, often in unmarked vehicles and in the presence of witnesses.
The report details how detainees were transferred from official detention centers to undisclosed locations, even after legal proceedings had begun.
Many victims were moved from place to place while blindfolded, heightening concerns about the legality of these actions.
“I was held in solitary confinement for one month and twenty days, and I saw about sixty others detained in the same facility,” said Mechemegeta Andualem, who was released in March 2024 after spending seven months in a facility he described as the “Russian Camp,” a military barracks.
His account is one of several testimonies that paint a troubling picture of unlawful detention practices in Ethiopia.
The EHRC report also uncovered a disturbing pattern of financial extortion, where families were coerced into paying large bribes to secure the release of their loved ones.
One case involved a security officer, holding the rank of major, who demanded substantial payments from detainees’ families.
These incidents underscore the widespread corruption and abuse of power within the system.
Furthermore, many detainees are being held without formal charges, and most have no access to legal representation.
Several detainees have reported being confined in facilities lacking basic infrastructure, while others have spoken out about facing physical threats and violence during interrogations.
The EHRC has called for immediate reforms to address these grave human rights violations, urging the Ethiopian government to ensure justice for the victims and accountability for those responsible for these unlawful acts.
The report has drawn international concern as Ethiopia continues to face challenges in its internal security and human rights record.
