Government shuts down ten NGOs

Oct. 30 (ESAT News)–Ethiopia’s Charities and Societies Agency (CSoA), announced Saturday that it had shut down 10 non-governmental organizations (NGOs) including Awelia School and the Islamic Religion Research Center (IRRC).

CSoA claimed that the NGOs were banned and their the licenses revoked due to alleged financial misconduct and violation of the law of charities and society’s proclamation, the agency public relations head Asefa Tesfaye told the Reporter.

The agency also warned over 460 NGOs that it claimed were operating against rules and regulations. The agency is reportedly investigating the cases of some 17 organizations that could also face bans.

The Charities and Societies Law is one of the most controversial laws enacted by the current government. Critics and intentional human rights groups have repeatedly condemned the law claimed it restricts the operation of NGOs and civil society organizations

The law has particularly put burdensome restrictions on NGOs working in areas of human rights that receive over 10 per cent of their funding from foreign donors.