Restore the connection. 220 days of darkness in Amhara.

Re: The internet blockade in the Amhara region, Ethiopia

Dear Sir or Madam,

It is becoming apparent that the criminal acts of Abiy Ahmed’s regime are coming to the attention of some credible international media outlets. Voices are being raised — both from inside the country and abroad — loud and clear, calling for an independent investigation. Local and international media should be granted access to the Amhara region in order to investigate, document, and report human rights violations committed under the state of emergency. Since the state of emergency was imposed on 2 August 2023 (and extended on 2 February 2024), Abiy Ahmed’s forces have been operating with total impunity and audacity, with no regard for their national or international obligations.

In its statement of 14 August 2023, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission underscored the actual and potential impact of the conflict on the human rights situation, particularly on civilians, urged a peaceful resolution of the crisis, and called for immediate measures to protect civilians. The EHRC also noted that it continues monitoring the human rights impact of the state of emergency by engaging with the relevant government bodies and security actors “with a great deal of difficulty.”

Already, 220 days have passed since the Ethiopian authorities cut internet access in the Amhara region. This control of the online space, in an attempt to manipulate narratives, has deprived millions of people of access to vital communication channels during an active conflict and restricted any footage or reports of gross human rights violations from coming out of the region.

At a time when millions of people are suffering due to the needless conflict — causing an unimaginable crisis and the worst suffering of its kind in the country’s history — communities are cut off from the rest of the country and prevented not just from freedom of movement, trade, and business, but also from communication and information. They are unable to share their stories or seek any assistance. The Ethiopian government must stop using internet blackouts as a weapon and prioritise the security, needs, and rights of its people.

Article 19 of the UN resolution on human rights on the internet welcomes the adoption of a resolution on “the promotion, protection and enjoyment of human rights on the Internet” at the UN Human Rights Council. The resolution — led by a core group of Brazil, Nigeria, Sweden, Tunisia, and the United States, and co-sponsored by 70 countries from all regions — was adopted by a vote with strong support at the Council on 13 July 2021. This is the fifth in a series of resolutions with the same title, the first of which was adopted in 2012.

We call on the international community to press the Ethiopian authorities to restore internet access and communications, grant independent media and international organisations immediate access to the Amhara region, and conduct an open and transparent investigation of the human rights violations committed under the state of emergency.

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Testimonies collected by Access Now {#testimonies}

Anonymous — engineer, Amhara region (25 October 2023, ongoing):

The ongoing internet shutdown has affected diverse aspects of my life. Emotionally, as I am unable to reach out to family and friends, nor to share my ideas on social media. Politically, as I can’t express my point of view to the rest of the world, nor receive any updates regarding what is happening in the world. Financially: at a time when technology has become an integral part of people’s lives, we are unable to access or provide services, including online shopping or marketing platforms.

GK — Amhara region (25 October 2023, ongoing):

Firstly, it has confirmed that we live under a tyrannical and unjust administration, exemplified by the fact that it doesn’t abide by any rule of law and changes its nature like a chameleon. Secondly, it has demonstrated that companies like Ethio-Telecom and Safaricom are not run independently, but are instead agents of the ruling party. Thirdly, the economic, social, and psychological crisis the shutdown has created is far from negligible. Finally, the shutdown means that several crimes committed by the government, including genocide, remain hidden from the world.

Adugnaw Belay — risk manager, with family in Bahir Dar, Gondar, and Gojjam (3 August 2023, ongoing):

I am based in Canada, but my sisters live in Bahir Dar, my brother-in-law lives in Gondar, and my extended family live in different towns in Gojjam. Since the start of the complete shutdown, we’ve been unable to communicate regularly. Given the bloody war against the civilian population, it has been hard to hear at all from many family members in the Amhara region. It is incredibly emotionally hard to be disconnected from family for this long. I am also unable to send remittances, as the region’s banking system has been cut off by the shutdown. The government is clearly taking such measures to hide the gruesome civilian massacres and drone bombings, which amount to war crimes.