This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
On May 16, 2020, the Addis Ababa Police Commission disclosed that more than 2,800 people had been arrested in the Ethiopian capital for failing to wear face masks in public places and for violating social distancing rules outlined under the country's state of emergency.
According to the commission, police in Addis Ababa have been patrolling crowded areas, including marketplaces, transport services, and public service providing areas, to enforce the emergency decree.
As a result, 1,941 individuals were arrested for not wearing a face mask, while 860 were held for violating social distancing rules. Twelve individuals were also arrested for shaking hands.
The arrests come despite the Ethiopian government's previous move to release thousands of inmates to contain the spread of the virus.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has criticized the police measures, stating that 'arbitrary arrests' are being made against people going out without wearing masks, which is 'needless'. The commission urged the government to immediately release the detainees.
At the time of the report, Ethiopia had reported 267 coronavirus cases and five deaths, with at least 112 patients having recovered from the disease.
