In the Freedom in the World 2025 report, Freedom House assigned Ethiopia a Global Freedom Score of 18 out of 100, categorizing the country as “Not Free.” This score marks a decline from 20 out of 100 in 2024, reflecting increased restrictions on political rights and civil liberties.
Ethiopia’s civil liberties remain severely constrained, with major challenges in freedom of expression, judicial independence, and individual freedoms.
Ethiopia’s low political rights score is attributed to government dominance in electoral processes, restrictions on opposition participation, and repression of political activism. Several factors contribute to this score:
- Election Integrity: The ruling Prosperity Party maintains control, while opposition parties face intimidation, arrests, and suppression. Elections are often marred by allegations of fraud and irregularities.
- Political Pluralism: Political opposition is heavily restricted, with limited space for alternative parties to operate freely. Government crackdowns on opposition leaders continue.
- Government Functioning: Centralized power in the executive branch reduces accountability and transparency. Parliament is largely ineffective in providing checks and balances.
Ethiopia’s declining Freedom House score underscores a deteriorating democratic environment. Without meaningful reforms to restore electoral integrity, ensure judicial independence, and uphold human rights, the country risks further political instability and global isolation. Addressing ethnic tensions, enhancing media freedom, and strengthening institutions will be crucial in reversing this downward trend.
A more detailed follow-up report will be released next, providing an in-depth analysis of Ethiopia’s democratic trajectory, human rights conditions, and governance challenges in 2025. The upcoming report will also explore potential policy recommendations and international responses to Ethiopia’s declining freedom status.
