Civilian Suffering in Armed Conflict – Africa.com | Global News Avenue

Civilians in East Africa and the Horn of Africa will bear the brunt of armed conflicts between government forces and opposition armed groups in 2024, Human Rights Watch said in its report today. world report 2025. Across the region, authorities harassed activists and government critics and silenced dissent.

Human Rights Watch reviewed the human rights practices of more than 100 countries in the 35th edition of this 546-page world report. In most parts of the world, executive directors Tirana Hassan Write In her introductory articlethe government cracked down and falsely arrested and imprisoned political opponents, activists, and journalists. Armed groups and government forces unlawfully kill civilians, drive many from their homes, and block access to humanitarian aid. In more than 70 national elections in 2024, many authoritarian leaders have won support with their discriminatory rhetoric and policies.

“Sudanese and Ethiopian armed forces and armed groups deliberately target civilians and critical infrastructure with near-total impunity,” aunt segunAfrica director at Human Rights Watch. “Regional and international agencies should urgently take concrete measures to help protect civilians and increase scrutiny of those responsible for serious violations.”

• Atrocities committed by the warring parties Sudan and Ethiopia Thousands of civilians were killed or injured, 12 million people were displaced in Sudan alone, and much of the civilian infrastructure was damaged or destroyed. The warring parties wantonly obstructed humanitarian aid, exacerbating famine in Sudan. Ethiopian government forces in the Amhara region have carried out widespread attacks on medical professionals, patients and health facilities.

• exist KenyaAuthorities kidnapped and killed dozens of peaceful anti-finance bill protesters with impunity and threatened to shut down civil society and donor organizations allegedly supporting the protests.

• exist EthiopiaSince then, authorities have suspended the activities of human rights organizations and stepped up harassment, intimidation, and arrests of journalists, human rights defenders, and opposition figures, forcing many into exile.

• exist EritreaDuring this period, the government continued indefinite mandatory military conscription and increased repression of overseas citizens.

• South SudanThe transitional government has delayed elections and failed to implement meaningful reforms, further exacerbating impunity for violations.

• Historically marginalized communities face further erosion of their rights. UgandaThe Constitutional Court upholds the discriminatory Anti-Homosexuality Bill of 2023. exist Tanzaniathe government forcibly relocated Maasai indigenous communities from their ancestral lands in Ngorongoro.

• Tanzanian authorities have arbitrarily arrested hundreds of opposition supporters, restricted social media access, banned independent media, and are suspected of kidnapping and extrajudicial killings of at least eight government critics Preparations for local elections November.

Distributed by APO Group on behalf of Human Rights Watch (HRW).