Ethiopian authorities want to “crack down” on LGBT events

Security forces in Ethiopia have announced plans to "crack down" on hotels, bars, restaurants and other places in the capital Addis Ababa where non-heterosexual sex acts are said to take place, the city government said on August 10.

The Addis Ababa Peace and Security Authority said it was taking action "against institutions where homosexual acts are committed." According to city authorities, security forces have already raided one of the guest houses in Addis Ababa. “If there is any tolerance anywhere for those who commit and carry out this vile, hateful act to man and God, [the department] will continue to take action,” the city administration said in a Facebook post.

Ethiopian human rights activists say the country's LGBT community remains underground due to the high risk of facing discrimination and ostracism. Same-sex relationships are illegal in Ethiopia, as in many African countries, but there have been no recent reports from the country of actual penalties for non-heterosexual consensual sexual acts.