The Ethiopian government has been blocking selected social media platforms for the past month, according to a statement by Amnesty International (AI).
Facebook, Telegram, Tik Tok, and YouTube are among the platforms that people in the country are unable to access due to the blockade, which violates citizens’ right to freedom of expression.
Flavia Mwangovya, AI Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, stated that the government is interfering with people’s right to express themselves and to seek and receive information, and urged the Ethiopian authorities to lift the blockade immediately.
This action is in direct violation of Ethiopia’s constitution, as well as national laws, and regional, and international treaties.
Furthermore, the government’s continued restriction on social media platforms adds to the country’s already poor record on media freedom.
On February 9th, 2023, the government of Ethiopia implemented a social media blockade as a response to growing tensions arising from a dispute within the country’s Orthodox Church. This move has resulted in the temporary suspension of access to social media platforms for the citizens of Ethiopia.
According to reports from various media outlets, it has been alleged that security forces were responsible for the deaths of multiple individuals during a confrontation with protesters at a Church located in the West Arsi zone of Shashamane city in the Oromia region. These reports suggest that the situation escalated to a violent standoff between the protesters and the security forces, resulting in the unfortunate loss of human lives.