Ethiopia is witnessing ongoing human rights violations as pressing calls for accountability remain unheeded, leaving millions in despair. Amnesty International’s Tigere Chagutah condemns the failures of both local authorities and international bodies to address these issues since armed conflict erupted in the Amhara region a year ago.
Amidst the haunting echoes of conflict, the shadows of justice continue to linger in Ethiopia, as the world watches the plight of millions who suffer in silence. One year post the resurgence of armed conflict in the Amhara region, humanitarian efforts have come to a grinding halt, akin to a symphony without its conductor. Tigere Chagutah, the Regional Director for East and Southern Africa at Amnesty International, paints a bleak picture of ongoing human rights abuses without accountability, stressing the urgent need for action. Chagutah stated, “Millions of Ethiopians are being denied justice despite having their lives shattered by conflict. Human rights violations have continued unabated, with no progress towards individual accountability, in the Amhara region since the latest armed conflict began a year ago.” His words resonate with the pain of those in the Tigray region, where cries for justice have gone unheard, while ongoing atrocities in Oromia add to the lamenting chorus for human rights. Describing the situation, he urged that despite promises and the establishment of transitional justice mechanisms by the Ethiopian government, actual changes remain elusive. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s insistence that his army refrains from committing massacres marks a continued denial of the present and past atrocities that cast a long shadow across the nation. The failure of African and global human rights bodies to act decisively in the face of these breaches looms over Ethiopia like a dark cloud. Chagutah warns, “What we have witnessed in Ethiopia is an utter failure to fulfill these duties, setting a dangerous global precedent that perpetrators can evade justice for international crimes.” This troubling circumstance begs for immediate intervention, as he calls for a return of Ethiopia to the agendas of human rights bodies, combined with urgent investigative actions into the crimes in the Amhara region.
The disquieting conditions in Ethiopia have escalated since the government declared a six-month state of emergency in August 2023, triggered by violent clashes between the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and the Fano militia. Post the Cessation of Hostilities agreement signed in November 2022, the atmosphere has remained charged, and human rights violations have swelled in scale and severity. Numerous reports of atrocities, particularly in the Tigray region, remain largely unaddressed, allowing a cycle of violence and impunity to fester. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government faces scrutiny and criticism for its failure to acknowledge and act upon these deep-seated human rights concerns.
Soaring above the ruins of conflict, the clarion call for justice remains unanswered as both African and global human rights organizations falter in their mission. The inertia in addressing human rights violations in Ethiopia sets a perilous precedent, highlighting the urgent collective responsibility of the international community to reinvigorate scrutiny and conversation regarding the plight of Ethiopian citizens. This moment calls not only for reflection but also for firm resolve to ensure that the cries for justice transform into tangible action.
Original Source: www.amnesty.org
