Human Rights Watch writes to express profound disappointment with the European Union's January 30 Presidential Declaration responding to the Ethiopian government's adoption of the Charities and Societies Proclamation. The Ethiopian Charities and Societies Proclamation is a direct and deliberate attack on independent civil society activity and violates the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and association. 

Human Rights Watch writes to Chairman of the African Union (AU), H.E. Jean Ping, preceeding the AU summit. We urge more attention to be paid to the countries of Somalia, Guinea, Chad, the DRC, and Zimbabwe. A call for action is also included asking to assist Senegal in moving forward with proceedings for former President of Chad, Hissène Habré.

Human Rights Watch writes to Secretary Gates on widespread human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in Somalia. The conflict in Mogadishu has steadily intensified since January 2007, after Ethiopian forces supporting the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) ousted the Islamic Courts Union from the city. To date, hundreds of civilians have been killed and up to 600,000 people are estimated to have fled the city, particularly following surges in violence in March, April and November. Since November, renewed clashes in Mogadishu have been marked by increasing brutality toward civilians, including further summary executions and enforced disappearances of individuals by Ethiopian and TFG forces conducting counterinsurgency operations.

Letter to Mr. Amolo requesting further details regarding issues of concern related to the Somalia crisis, particularly the arbitrary detention, deportation, and apparent enforced disappearance of dozens of individuals who fled Somalia in December 2006 and January 2007.

Human Rights Watch draws attention to several incidents of human rights violations allegedly committed by federal police officers against students in the Ethiopian towns of Dembi Dollo and Ghimbi in western Oromiya State in the past weeks.

Human Rights Watch has received reports of the extrajudicial execution of four youths in Gondar on February 6 (January 29, Ethiopian calendar) by members of the federal police. We urge you to investigate the incident and use your powers to ensure that the perpetrators are fully and fairly prosecuted.

Human Rights Watch is concerned that the authorities have violated the right to bail as provided in the Ethiopian Constitution and international human rights law in two cases involving political dissidents and journalists. We urge that high court orders mandating their release on bail be immediately honored.

Human Rights Watch urgently calls for investigations by the Ministries of Federal Affairs and Justice into allegations of torture inflicted on University of Addis Ababa students at the Kolfe Police Training Academy on January 20-21, 2004. Individuals found responsible for acts of torture should be criminally prosecuted as well as dismissed from employment.