4 April 2024
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – Human Rights Watch (HRW), a leading international human rights organization, has accused Ethiopian government security forces of committing killings in the Amhara region.
In a statement released today, HRW called for an independent investigation into the deaths of civilians caught in the fighting between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and regional Fano militia.
The organization also urged the United Nations and African Union to suspend the deployment of Ethiopian troops in international peacekeeping missions.
“The Ethiopian military’s brutal killings of civilians in Amhara undercut the government’s claims that it’s trying to bring law and order to the region,” said Laetitia Bader, HRW’s Deputy Africa Director. “
Since fighting began, civilians are once again bearing the brunt of an abusive army operating with impunity.”
HRW alleges that the ENDF carried out summary executions of civilians in the town of Merawi in late January.
While the exact death toll remains unclear, HRW documented dozens of victims and cited residents’ estimates exceeding 80 fatalities. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission reported 45 civilian deaths, while a local NGO found 89.
The organization further criticized the Ethiopian government’s failure to hold those responsible accountable.
This lack of accountability, according to HRW, has fostered a climate of impunity, allowing violence against civilians to continue.
HRW’s statement comes amid ongoing tensions in Ethiopia, with the northern Tigray region still grappling with the aftermath of a brutal civil war.
The international community has called for investigations into human rights abuses by all parties involved in the conflict, including the Ethiopian government.
