CORI Country Report Ethiopia January 2010 Commissioned by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees Status Determination and Protection Information Section, Division of International Protection. Any views expressed in this paper are those of the author and are not necessarily those of UNHCR. Preface Country of Origin Information (COI) is required within Refugee Status Determination (RSD) to provide objective evidence on conditions in refugee producing countries to support decision making. Quality information about human rights, legal provisions, politics, culture, society, religion and healthcare in countries of origin is essential in establishing whether or not a person’s fear of persecution is well founded. Categories of COI included within this report are based on the most common issues arising from asylum applications made by Ethiopian nationals. This report covers events up to the end of 2009. CORI Country Reports are prepared on the basis of publicly available information, studies and commentaries within a specified time frame. All sources are cited and fully referenced. Every effort has been taken to ensure accuracy and comprehensive coverage of the research issues, however as COI is reliant on publicly available documentation there may be instances where the required information is not available. The reports are not, and do not purport to be, either exhaustive with regard to conditions in the country surveyed, or conclusive as to the merits of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Every effort has been made to compile information from reliable sources; users should assess the credibility, relevance and timeliness of source material with reference to the specific research concerns arising from individual applications. CORI is an independent centre providing specialist research resources to support Refugee Status Determination. CORI works internationally with all parties to RSD, including governments, legal representatives and NGOs, producing commissioned research reports and providing knowledge management services. CORI works to improve standards of COI production through capacity building and training. Country of Origin Research and Information (CORI) www.cori.org.uk [email protected] January 2010 CORI Country Report: Ethiopia, January 2010 2 www.cori.org.uk Table of Contents CORI Country Report; Ethiopia, January 2010 Preface.................................................................................................2 A. Background Information ..............................................................5 1. Historical overview .........................................................................................................5 2. Political background .......................................................................................................6 a. Government/political system ......................................................................................6 3. Security overview...........................................................................................................8 a. Border conflict with Eritrea..........................................................................................8 b. Counter insurgency campaigns in the Oromo and Somali regions...........................12 c. Military involvement in Somalia ................................................................................18 B. Freedom of Expression and Association .................................22 1. Domestic legal framework............................................................................................22 a. Freedom of Expression ............................................................................................22 b. Freedom of Assembly...............................................................................................24 2. Political rights...............................................................................................................26 3. Treatment of members and supporters of opposition groups.......................................28 a. Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) ..................................................................................29 b. Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)................................................................32 c. Al-Ittihad al-Islamia or the Islamic Union Party (IUP)................................................33 d. Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) ................................................................35 e. All Amhara People’s Party (AAPO)...........................................................................37 f. All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP)..............................................................................38 g. Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP).......................................................38 h. Gambella Peoples Liberation Party (GPLP) .............................................................39 4. Treatment of family members of opposition groups .....................................................39 a. Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)................................................................40 b. Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) ..................................................................................41 c. Anuak .......................................................................................................................42 d. Coalition for Unity and Democracy (CUD) ................................................................44 5. Civil society, human rights and political activists..........................................................44 6. Journalists....................................................................................................................48 7. Failed asylum-seekers .................................................................................................51 C. Security Forces/Military Service................................................53 1. Armed forces................................................................................................................53 2. Police ...........................................................................................................................56 3. Security and intelligence apparatus .............................................................................58 4. Armed opposition groups .............................................................................................60 a. Ogaden National Liberation Front.............................................................................61 b. Oromo Liberation Front ............................................................................................61 c. Ethiopian People’s Patriotic Front.............................................................................62 d. Gambella People’s Liberation Front .........................................................................62 5. Conscientious objectors ...............................................................................................64 6. Draft evaders/deserters................................................................................................64 CORI Country Report: Ethiopia, January 2010 3 7. Forced recruitment.......................................................................................................65 D. Ethnicity .......................................................................................66 1. Domestic legal framework............................................................................................66 2. Background information ...............................................................................................68 3. Oromo ..........................................................................................................................69 4. Ogaden Somalis...........................................................................................................70 5. Amharas.......................................................................................................................71 6. Anuak/Anyuak..............................................................................................................72 7. Nuer .............................................................................................................................73 8. Midgan/Medigan/Madhiban..........................................................................................74 9. Murle ............................................................................................................................76 E. Citizenship and Nationality ........................................................77 1. Domestic legal framework............................................................................................77 2. Persons of mixed Ethiopian/Eritrean origin ..................................................................81 F. Freedom of Religion ...................................................................84 1. Domestic legal framework............................................................................................84 2. Christians .....................................................................................................................85 3. Jews.............................................................................................................................86 G. Women/Children/Sexual Orientation.........................................88 1. Domestic legal framework............................................................................................88