15 Feb 2024
The Ethiopian government has refuted claims of civilian casualties in the city of Marawi, following reports of a clash between defense forces and the Fano militia group.
State Communications Minister Leges Tulu told Deutsche Welle, “The defense forces did not target any kind of civilians,” asserting the incident involved solely the armed groups.
However, this statement faces international scrutiny. The Canadian Embassy in Ethiopia expressed “extreme concern” regarding the alleged killings, while the UK Embassy termed them “disturbing” and urged a “full investigation.” Both the European Union and the US government echoed the call for an independent probe.
Despite international pressure, Dr. Legese Tulu maintained that Ethiopian authorities are handling the matter through the Emergency Proclamation Investigation Board.
The situation remains tense, with conflicting narratives and demands for an impartial investigation dominating the discourse.
