Dejen News (August 3) — The Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) said that it confirmed Internet shutdown in many parts of Amhara region.
“CARD would like to reiterate its belief that internet shutdowns are not the solutions to prevent conflicts and bring sustainable peace and calls up for the lifting of restrictions,” it said in Twitter post.
CARD urged the Ethiopian government to cease internet shutdowns in various parts of the Amhara region. As clashes between federal forces and the armed group Fano escalate, Card asserted that it confirmed the shutdown.
CARD said that such shutdowns are not a viable solution for preventing conflicts and achieving lasting peace, calling for the immediate lifting of restrictions on internet access.
Last month, CARD highlighted the frequent imposition of internet shutdowns in Ethiopia and demanded an end to this concerning trend. The organization argued that such shutdowns pose a threat to democracy and digitalization, violating constitutionally protected human rights and freedoms. Globally, authorities have been known to utilize internet shutdowns during political crises to suppress protests, silence dissent, and evade accountability, according to CARD.
The advocacy group emphasized that internet shutdowns compromise the integrity of elections and hinder human rights in the digital era. Such measures also have detrimental effects on businesses, causing significant financial losses to the country.
CARD underlined that there is no legal basis for imposing internet shutdowns in Ethiopia, which curtail freedom of expression and access to information. The organization urged Ethiopian civil society organizations to challenge the government’s actions before the law. The civic group is a nonprofit registered in Ethiopia.
