2021–2022 Ethiopian state of emergency explained

Partof:Tigray War
Image Upright:1
Date:5 November 2021 – 15 February 2022[1]
Cause:
Outcome:
  • TDF and allies pushed back to the Tigray Region

The 2021–2022 Ethiopian state of emergency was issued by the Ethiopian Government on 2 November 2021 and put into effect on 5 November by the Ethiopian parliament, which acted the bill from the executive government of the country into law. The six month state of emergency grants federal authorities "sweeping powers to arrest and detain critics, impose curfews and restrict the news media" as well as conscript any citizen over 18 to fight in the Tigray War.[2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

The emergency was lifted on 15 February 2022 in a vote by the Ethiopian Parliament three weeks after the cabinet of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed approved of lifting the emergency.[8] [9]

Background

See main article: TDF–OLA joint offensive. The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) suffered a defeat in June 2021 when forced to withdraw from the Tigray Region in the north of Ethiopia, and several thousand of its soldiers were taken captive. The state of emergency in November was declared after Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) took Dessie and Kombolcha, "strategically located towns" on a north-south highway leading to the capital Addis Ababa.[2]

Legal creation

The House of Peoples Representatives approved the state of emergency proclamation that was referred to it by the Council of Ministers. The Council of Ministers declared the State of Emergency 5/14 in relation to armed conflict involving the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in relation to the Tigray War and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in relation to the Oromo conflict.[10]

Actions

Effects of the state of emergency in early November 2021 included mass detentions of "anyone of Tigrayan descent, many of whom had no ties to the rebels or even affinity for them," including "mothers with children and the elderly". Laetitia Bader of Human Rights Watch described the state of emergency as "'legitimizing and legalizing unlawful practices' and creating a 'real climate of fear'.[2]

Online hate speech increased in November. Journalists, politicians, and pro-federal-government activists called ethnic Tigrayans "traitors", called for neighbours to "weed" them, and called for authorities to detain ethnic Tigrayans in "concentration camps".[2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Ethiopia parliament votes to lift state of emergency early. Al Jazzera. 2 February 2022. 14 May 2022.
  2. News: Dahir. Abdi Latif. Mass Detentions of Civilians Fan 'Climate of Fear' in Ethiopia. 17 November 2021. The New York Times. 17 November 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20211117060018/https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/17/world/africa/ethiopia-tigrayan-detention.html. 17 November 2021. live.
  3. Web site: 2 November 2021. Ethiopia declares state of emergency as rivals make way toward capital. live. 2 November 2021. NBC News. https://web.archive.org/web/20211103014023/https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/ethiopia-declares-state-emergency-rivals-make-way-toward-capital-n1283080. 3 November 2021.
  4. Web site: 2 November 2021. Ethiopia declares nationwide state of emergency. live. 2 November 2021. Aljazeera News. https://web.archive.org/web/20211102163758/https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/11/2/ethiopia-declares-nationwide-state-of-emergency. 2 November 2021.
  5. Web site: Feleke. Bethlehem. 2 November 2021. Ethiopia announces state of emergency as Tigrayan forces gain ground. live. 2 November 2021. CNN. https://web.archive.org/web/20211103035736/https://www.cnn.com/2021/11/02/africa/ethiopia-state-of-emergency-tigrayan-intl-afr/index.html. 3 November 2021.
  6. Web site: 2 November 2021. Ethiopia declares state of emergency as Tigrayan forces gain ground. live. 2 November 2021. Reuters. https://web.archive.org/web/20211102091854/https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/addis-ababa-government-urges-residents-register-arms-media-2021-11-02/ . 2 November 2021.
  7. Web site: 4 November 2021. House Approves The State Of Emergency. live. 4 November 2021. Fana Broadcasting Corporate. https://web.archive.org/web/20211104093051/https://www.fanabc.com/english/house-approves-the-state-of-emergency/. 4 November 2021.
  8. Web site: Ethiopia parliament votes to lift state of emergency early. Al Jazeera. 2 February 2022. 14 May 2022.
  9. Web site: 26 January 2022. Ethiopia's cabinet approves lifting of state of emergency. 11 February 2022. Reuters.
  10. Web site: 7 May 2021. TPLF and Shene designated as terrorist organisations. live. 7 May 2021. ethioembassy.org.uk. https://web.archive.org/web/20210629095619/https://www.ethioembassy.org.uk/tplf-and-shene-designated-as-terrorist-organisations/. 29 June 2021.

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