Human rights advocates have raised alarms over the ongoing mass detentions in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, urging immediate international intervention. Thousands of people, including judicial officials, academics, and civilians, have been held without charge since the Ethiopian government launched mass arrests in September 2024.
Critics have condemned the prolonged detentions as a violation of human rights, warning that Ethiopia’s government continues to suppress civic freedoms. Reports indicate that while some detainees were released in January 2025, thousands remain in custody without due process. Rights groups stress that the international community must pressure Ethiopian authorities to release those held arbitrarily or bring formal charges against them.
The mass arrests took place amid ongoing clashes between Ethiopian federal forces and Amhara armed groups. Human rights organizations warn that continued silence from international actors risks further erosion of the rule of law in Ethiopia.