Amnesty International has strongly criticized proposed amendments to Ethiopia's Civil Society Organization (CSO) law, warning that these changes could severely restrict the operations of civil society groups in the country. The human rights organization argued that if enacted, the amendments would represent a significant rollback of freedoms restored by the 2019 CSO Proclamation, which was intended to correct the restrictive measures of the previous 2009 law.

Under the proposed amendments, the structure of the Civil Society Organization Board would be altered to give the government a majority of the seats, potentially compromising the board's independence. This change, according to Amnesty, could undermine the system of checks and balances necessary for a healthy civic space, closing doors to accountability within the Authority for Civil Society Organizations (ACSO), which is overseen by the Ministry of Justice.

Further concerns arise from provisions that would prevent national CSOs involved in "political advocacy" from receiving donor funds. Amnesty International highlighted the ambiguity of the term "political advocacy," noting that it could allow Ethiopian authorities to arbitrarily restrict the activities of nonprofits under this broad category. Moreover, the amendments would empower the ACSO to reject CSO registrations based on mere suspicions of threats to national security, a criterion that Amnesty views as dangerously vague and open to abuse.

Additional regulatory measures in the draft law include requiring CSOs to obtain government approval to open bank accounts and secure loans, increasing government oversight over their financial activities. These restrictions, Amnesty argues, could deter CSOs from engaging in their normal activities for fear of reprisal or closure.

The backdrop to these proposed changes is a context of growing governmental crackdown on civil society, despite initial promises by the current administration to uphold human rights and foster democracy following widespread protests that led to a change in leadership in 2018. The United Nations and various human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have repeatedly emphasized the essential role played by CSOs in maintaining governmental transparency, encouraging political participation, and advancing human rights.

Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at Human Rights Watch, expressed concern that the rollback of the 2019 reforms signaled a return to a repressive governance style. Amnesty International, along with other rights advocates, is calling for the Ethiopian government to abandon these proposed amendments and maintain an enabling environment for civil society organizations, crucial for the democratic and social development of the country.