Amnesty International has strongly condemned proposed changes to Ethiopia’s Civil Society Organization (CSO) law, warning that the draft amendments should not be enacted. The organization cautioned that if approved, the changes would severely restrict civic space in the country. The CSO Proclamation of 2019 currently regulates both national and international civil society groups operating in Ethiopia.
One of the key amendments involves restructuring the Civil Society Organization Board, which oversees the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO). Under the new proposal, the government would hold a majority of seats on the Board, significantly reducing representation from CSOs. Amnesty International argues that this shift would erode checks and balances, undermine independence, and eliminate meaningful oversight, making accountability almost impossible within the existing governance system.
The draft law also seeks to bar donors, including international organizations and individuals, from funding CSOs engaged in “political advocacy.” Amnesty International noted that the vague wording leaves the provision open to misuse, potentially allowing authorities to target non-profits arbitrarily. Additionally, the amendments empower the ACSO to deny registration to organizations suspected—without proof—of posing a threat to national security. Amnesty warned that this provision could be used to silence peaceful dissent and critical voices under the guise of security concerns.
Further restrictions would give authorities greater control over CSO financing. Organizations would need official approval to open bank accounts, and loans would require ACSO authorization. Such financial oversight, Amnesty said, would significantly hinder the independence and operational capacity of civil society groups.
These proposed amendments come after years of public struggle for human rights and accountability. Following mass protests, Ethiopia’s previous leadership resigned in 2018, and the current government pledged to end abuses and foster democracy. The 2019 CSO Proclamation replaced a repressive 2009 law, opening space for civil society engagement. However, recent years have seen increasing crackdowns. In January 2025, Human Rights Watch criticized Ethiopian authorities for shutting down human rights organizations, warning of a reversal of democratic reforms.
Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch, remarked that rolling back the 2019 reforms signals a return to a repressive past many had hoped Ethiopia had moved beyond. Amnesty International stressed that adopting these amendments would have a chilling effect, discouraging CSOs from carrying out their work due to fear of persecution, ultimately silencing civil society and weakening human rights protections in the country.
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