Country of Origin Information Report Ethiopia Date February 2021 Page 1 of 105 Country of Origin Information Report Ethiopia | Publication details City The Hague Compiled by Directorate for Sub-Saharan Africa Country of Origin Information Reports Section Editor(s): Page 2 of 105 Country of Origin Information Report Ethiopia | Table of contents Publication details ............................................................................................2 Table of contents .............................................................................................3 Introduction ....................................................................................................6 1 Political and security situation .................................................................... 7 1.1 Political and administrative developments ...........................................................7 1.1.1 Appointment of Abiy Ahmed ..............................................................................7 1.1.2 Honeymoon period ..........................................................................................7 1.1.3 Ethnic Federalism ............................................................................................9 1.1.4 Reforms ....................................................................................................... 10 1.1.5 Prosperity Party & Elections ............................................................................ 11 1.2 Legal opposition movements ........................................................................... 14 1.2.1 Coalitions/partnerships/alliances ..................................................................... 14 1.2.2 Separate parties ............................................................................................ 16 1.2.3 Qeerroo ........................................................................................................ 19 1.3 Illegal opposition movements .......................................................................... 20 1.4 Violent methods by illegal opposition parties ..................................................... 22 1.4.1 By Qeerroo ................................................................................................... 24 1.5 Area of operation of illegal opposition movements ............................................. 25 1.6 Role of and developments surrounding the OLF ................................................. 25 1.7 Relations with neighbouring countries Eritrea, Somalia, Sudan and South Sudan ... 26 1.7.1 Eritrea.......................................................................................................... 26 1.7.2 Sudan .......................................................................................................... 29 1.7.3 South Sudan ................................................................................................. 31 1.7.4 Somalia ........................................................................................................ 32 1.8 Security situation .......................................................................................... 34 1.8.1 Changes in the security situation in Ethiopia ..................................................... 34 1.8.2 Oromia ......................................................................................................... 35 1.8.3 Amhara ........................................................................................................ 39 1.8.4 Benishangul-Gumuz ....................................................................................... 41 1.8.5 SNNPRS ....................................................................................................... 43 1.8.6 Somali Regional State .................................................................................... 44 1.8.7 Tigray .......................................................................................................... 45 1.8.8 Afar ............................................................................................................. 48 1.8.9 Gambela ...................................................................................................... 48 1.9 Background to violent incidents: increase or decrease? Arbitrary or targeted? ....... 48 1.9.1 Developments ............................................................................................... 49 1.9.2 Targeted or random ....................................................................................... 50 2 Identity, nationality and documents .......................................................... 51 2.1 Identity, nationality and documents ................................................................. 51 2.1.1 INVEA .......................................................................................................... 51 2.1.2 Kebele card .................................................................................................. 51 2.1.3 National identity card ..................................................................................... 53 2.1.4 Passport ....................................................................................................... 53 2.1.5 Birth registration and birth certificate ............................................................... 55 2.1.6 Refugee document(s) and registration.............................................................. 56 2.2 Possibility for refugees residing legally in Ethiopia to obtain Ethiopian nationality... 57 Page 3 of 105 3 Human rights ............................................................................................. 59 3.1 Position of specific groups ............................................................................... 59 3.1.1 Protection of citizens by authorities or other actors ............................................ 59 3.1.2 Exclusion of certain (social) groups from protection or conditions imposed in order to receive protection .......................................................................................... 61 3.2 Ethnic groups ................................................................................................ 61 3.2.1 Position and Treatment of Various Ethnic Groups ............................................... 61 3.2.2 Prosecution of or discrimination against minorities by fellow citizens and/or government and the degree of government protection ....................................... 65 3.2.3 Deprivation of particular ethnic groups ............................................................. 67 3.2.4 Problems due to involvement or membership of OLF, ONLF or PG7 ...................... 67 3.2.5 Treatment due to involvement with or membership of OLF or ONLF ..................... 70 3.2.6 Developments surrounding ethnic violence in Ethiopia ........................................ 72 3.3 Members of opposition parties/political activists ................................................ 72 3.3.1 Monitoring political opponents abroad .............................................................. 72 3.3.2 Which activities are monitored and in which way? .............................................. 74 3.3.3 Role of embassies and of the Ethiopian intelligence and security services in monitoring Ethiopians abroad .......................................................................... 74 3.3.4 Consequences of marginal opposition activities ................................................. 74 3.3.5 Risk of retaliation for participating in a demonstration abroad ............................. 75 3.3.6 How does the Ethiopian government act in such situations? ................................ 76 3.3.7 Possible criminal prosecution after return ......................................................... 76 3.3.8 Position of sympathisers and members of organisations such as OLF, ONLF and PG7 ................................................................................................................... 76 3.3.9 Position of members of opposition parties ......................................................... 76 3.4 Compliance and violations .............................................................................. 79 3.4.1 State of play regarding compliance with and violation of human rights ................. 79 4 Refugees and displaced persons ................................................................ 83 4.1 Numbers of refugees and displaced persons ...................................................... 83 4.2 Reception locations for internally displaced persons ........................................... 85 4.2.1 What is the actual situation in these areas? ...................................................... 85 4.3 Legal provisions and policy related to Eritrean refugees/asylum seekers ............... 87 4.3.1 Access to asylum procedure in Ethiopia and recent restrictions introduced by Ethiopia ........................................................................................................ 88 4.3.2 Certain restrictions for specific groups from Eritrea ............................................ 89 4.3.3 Risk of deportation if refugee status is not obtained or if the asylum seeker is not registered ..................................................................................................... 90 4.3.4 Access of Eritrean minors to asylum procedure.................................................. 90 4.3.5 Registration by the ARRA of (Eritrean) asylum seekers ......................................