27 February 2024
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia – The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called for a complete criminal investigation into alleged war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in the Oromia region, according to a report released last week.
The report details extrajudicial killings of civilians between September 2014 and October 2023 in nine zones across the region.
The EHRC claims these killings were carried out by the National Defense Army, the Oromo Liberation Army, and irregular Amhara militants, often with civilians targeted based on perceived support for opposing forces or their ethnic affiliation.
The report states, “The human rights violations committed in Oromia may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. A complete criminal investigation is required.”
All parties mentioned in the report – the Ethiopian Defense Force, the Oromo Liberation Army, and the Amhara irregular militias – have denied the accusations.
Despite the report’s release, the EHRC’s Jimma branch office head, Dasa Le Mesa, told Voice of America that attacks on civilians continue.
The commission has emphasized dialogue as the only sustainable solution to the ongoing conflicts in the country.
