‘Women who speak out must be exterminated’: the rising tide of digital violence facing Ethiopian activists

Feminists and rights defenders say online threats have rapidly escalated, forcing some to leave the country for their safety Yordanos Bezabih, an Ethiopian women’s rights activist, had faced online threats for years: of acid attacks, gang-rape and death. She tried her best to ignore the abuse as she continued her advocacy work. But in 2025, the threats became more menacing. In April, an anonymous Telegram group with 6,000 subscribers organised an effort to track down her location. They shared...

By Aisha Down