28 SHRINKING DEMOCRACY, GROWING VIOLENCE // Shutdowns during conflict: Ethiopia The Ethiopian government’s use of shutdowns is especially harmful during conflict. Yet despite public outcry, authorities persist in keeping people almost entirely in the dark while their lives are at stake. In April 2023, after the Ethiopian army moved to disarm the Amhara Special Forces and other regional allies, protests and violence broke out in Gondar, Kobo, Sekota, Weldiya, and other cities in the Amhara region. As the situation escalated, federal authorities blocked mobile internet access across Amhara, cutting millions of people off from the rest of the world. 118 When the fighting intensified in August, the government declared a state of emergency and once again shut down internet access, amid chilling reports of ethnic cleansing.119 Authorities also arrested journalists and blocked press access in a crackdown on coverage of the ongoing conflict.120 Ethiopia’s systematic use of internet shutdowns and media censorship during conflict makes it extremely difficult for people to access lifesaving information, as well as to get humanitarian assistance, including emergency healthcare, water, food, shelter, and protection services.121 The disruptions also make it difficult to ascertain and document the scale and scope of atrocities being perpetrated by warring parties. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has reported instances of extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, physical assault, displacement, and destruction of civilian property by government security forces and state militia, as well as a deteriorating situation marked by escalating atrocities, including a disturbing increase in sexual and gender-based violence.122 After more than a year of fighting at the time of publication, the conflict and attacks against civilians continue to escalate.123 These atrocities, which may amount to war crimes, stand in serious violation of international humanitarian law.124 Even after a conflict is over, internet shutdowns exacerbate pain and suffering and prevent recovery from violence and devastation. As we write, the peace process initiated in November 2022 following a years-long conflict and humanitarian crisis in Tigray has yet to take hold.125 There is persistent insecurity, drought, famine, and disruptions to humanitarian aid, all of which continue to harm civilians attempting to piece their lives back together after the war.126 Relentless attacks on an already fragile telecommunications infrastructure, and slow progress by authorities to rebuild, have left many people in Tigray either completely disconnected, forced to travel outside their community to access a connection, or limited to extremely slow and unreliable service. As we have highlighted, that means that by the end of 2023, many had spent 1,153 days disconnected, when they needed help the most. 118 The Guardian (2023). Gun battles erupt in Ethiopia as PM axes Amhara region’s security force. https://www. theguardian.com/global-development/2023/apr/12/gun-battles-erupt-in-ethiopia-as-pm-axes-amhara-regionssecurity-force/ 119 The Guardian (2023). Ethiopia declares a state of emergency in Amhara amid increasing violence. https://www. theguardian.com/global-development/2023/aug/04/ethiopia-declares-a-state-of-emergency-in-amhara-amidincreasing-violence/; OHCHR (2023). Comprehensive investigative findings and legal determinations. International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. https://www.ohchr.org/sites/default/files/documents/hrbodies/ hrcouncil/chreetiopia/a-hrc-54-crp-3.pdf 120 Addis Standard (2023). News: CPJ urges authorities to release journalist detained without charge. https://addisstandard.com/news-cpj-urges-authorities-to-release-journalist-detained-without-charge/ 121 See supra note 119. 122 Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (2023). Amhara Region: Concerning human rights violations in the context of the armed conflict. https://ehrc.org/amhara-region-concerning-human-rights-violations-in-the-context-of-the-armedconflict/ 123 Foreign Policy (2024). Ethiopia’s Amhara Conflict Could Spark Civil War. https://foreignpolicy.com/2024/03/06/ ethiopia-amhara-conflict-civil-war/ 124 Amnesty International (2024). Ethiopia: End extrajudicial Executions in Amhara region, bring perpetrators to justice. https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2024/02/ethiopia-end-extrajudicial-executions-in-amhara-region-bringperpetrators-to-justice/ 125 Supra note 32. 126 See AP News (2024). Ethiopia's Tigray region is now peaceful, but extreme hunger afflicts its children. https:// apnews.com/article/ethiopia-hunger-crisis-tigray-malnutrition-health-7e085f5bd2ac138a27fdc0ec544fb296/