In its report, the United States rights group said that in the ongoing conflicts in Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia, national armed forces and armed groups attacked civilians.
Fighting has displaced millions of people, both internally and across borders to neighboring countries. Ethiopia stood out during the year as an example of positive change, with Abiy Ahmed, who was appointed prime minister in April, carrying out many significant reforms, noted the report issued in Nairobi.
“We are seeing an alarming backsliding on human rights in East Africa and in the Horn as governments use violence and repression to silence peaceful dissent, while failing to ensure accountability for abuses by their forces,” said Mausi Segun, Africa director at HRW.
In Ethiopia, Prime Minister Abiy announced a commitment to revise repressive laws, lifted the state of emergency, ordered the release of tens of thousands of political prisoners, overturned bans on opposition political parties, and fired some abusive officials.
In Kenya, the report pointed out that security forces cracked down violently on protesters during elections in late 2017 and early 2018.
The crackdown, largely in opposition strongholds, killed more than 100 people; and dozens of women and girls reported sexual assault, noted the report.
The report further singled out Ugandan security forces who also violently dispersed protests; beating, arbitrarily detaining, and at times torturing, protesters, journalists, and opposition politicians.
In Tanzania, authorities have harassed and detained journalists, opposition members, and activists; and used hostile rhetoric against sexual minorities, threatening to round-up suspected LGBTI people and subject them to forced anal exams and conversion therapy.
In Sudan, government forces attacked and destroyed dozens of villages in Jebel Mara, in Central Darfur, forcing thousands of people to flee.
In South Sudan, fighting between government and rebel forces continued despite a revitalized peace agreement signed in September.
In Somalia, fighting, insecurity, lack of protection by the government, and recurring humanitarian crises had a devastating impact on civilians in 2018.
The report pointed out that security forces unlawfully killed and wounded civilians during fighting over land and control of roadblocks, and disarmament operations, particularly in Mogadishu and Lower Shabelle.
In Eritrea, a July peace agreement with Ethiopia and the lifting of UN sanctions in October led to increased hope that draconian restrictions on basic freedoms and rights would be lifted, but there was little change in 2018, the report pointed out.