Ethiopia’s national human rights body has sounded the alarm over a pattern of serious violations taking place inside police detention facilities across the Amhara Region, pointing to unlawful arrests, prolonged custody without court hearings, and physical mistreatment of suspects.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) presented its findings at a stakeholder forum held in Bahir Dar on May 13, 2026, following inspections carried out across 32 police stations in multiple zones and city administrations throughout the region. The gathering brought together senior regional police officials, members of the regional legislature, court representatives, justice and security bureaus, UN human rights officers, and academic institutions.
While the EHRC acknowledged some progress, including improved court appearance procedures in certain areas and the resolution of cases involving over 170 individuals following its advocacy, it identified deeply troubling conditions in detention centers across Bahir Dar, Gondar, North Gojjam, and North Shewa zones. Among the most serious findings were cases where individuals had been held without court authorization for as long as seven months, far exceeding the 48-hour limit mandated under Ethiopian law. Monitors also documented allegations of physical assault, threats, verbal abuse, and intimidation by police officers, alongside denied visitation rights and a lack of protection for vulnerable detainees.
A senior official from the Regional Police Commission acknowledged that the EHRC’s findings were an accurate reflection of conditions on the ground and stated that internal reform standards were already being developed and rolled out. The EHRC’s regional director emphasized that law enforcement bodies are obligated to uphold human rights even during periods of conflict and security pressure, and that the Commission would continue engaging stakeholders to drive improvements.
The findings are part of a broader and worsening pattern. The EHRC had previously raised concerns in 2023 and 2024 about extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detentions, and civilian casualties linked to armed clashes between federal forces and the Fano armed group in Amhara, including reports that the Commission was denied access to detention facilities during the 2023 state of emergency. Separately, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) has also recently urged the federal government to address ongoing abuses in Amhara and South Ethiopia, highlighting the disproportionate impact on women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities.
Source: Addis Standard — Published May 28, 2026.
