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The objective of the counterterrorism policies of Ethiopia as reflected in the anti-terrorist proclamations was to protect the right of people to live in peace, freedom and security at all times from the threat of terrorism. However, in practice, the counterterrorism policies followed the designation of opposition political forces as terrorist organisations and unprecedented crackdown on political opposition and critical voices. Therefore, this emancipatory study examines the theory and practice of Ethiopia’s counterterrorism policies with the objective to unravel its political use and abuse, and hence demystify its security referent. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, and the analysis of the anti-terrorist proclamations, explanatory notes, speeches, terrorism files and records, and reports of international human rights organisations. The analysis revealed that counterterrorism in Ethiopia remains the source of threat rather than security to the people in the country.ABSTRACT The objective of the counterterrorism policies of Ethiopia as reflected in the anti-terrorist proclamations was to protect the right of people to live in peace, freedom and security at all times from the threat of terrorism. However, in practice, the counterterrorism policies followed the designation of opposition political forces as terrorist organisations and unprecedented crackdown on political opposition and critical voices. Therefore, this emancipatory study examines the theory and practice of Ethiopia’s counterterrorism policies with the objective to unravel its political use and abuse, and hence demystify its security referent. Data were obtained through in-depth interviews, and the analysis of the anti-terrorist proclamations, explanatory notes, speeches, terrorism files and records, and reports of international human rights organisations. The analysis revealed that counterterrorism in Ethiopia remains the source of threat rather than security to the people in the country.