Addis Ababa — The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has released a deeply troubling report today, unveiling the widespread occurrence of sexual violence in connection to the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region. The report exposes over 200 cases of rape that have been registered at various health facilities since July 2021, with victims including displaced women and health workers.
Alongside the issue of sexual violence, the report sheds light on civilian casualties and numerous human rights violations throughout the conflict in Amhara. The EHRC urgently calls for all parties involved to immediately cease these deplorable violations.
The EHRC states that the conflict, which began in July 2023, has resulted in civilian casualties due to heavy artillery and aerial bombardments across all zones of the region. Intense clashes and indiscriminate attacks involving heavy artillery, mortars, and air power, including drone strikes, have occurred sporadically throughout Amhara, putting the lives of innocent civilians at risk. Control over different cities and towns within Amhara has constantly shifted between government forces and the non-state militia known as Fano.
One of the notable incidents mentioned in the report is the killing of a one-year and seven-month-old child in Meteh Bila town on October 16. Another incident occurred on October 19 in Debre Markos city, where at least eight civilians were killed in a drone strike.
According to the report, the intensity of the violence has resulted in mass displacement, with communities fleeing for their lives. In the Menjar district alone, around 3,000 residents are seeking shelter in makeshift accommodations such as schools and fields. Others have been scattered across towns like Metehara and Awash in the neighboring Oromia region after being forcefully expelled by government forces in September 2023. The report emphasizes the insufficiency of humanitarian assistance, including food, water, and medicine, for these displaced populations.
The report also raises concerns about extrajudicial killings, particularly by government security forces. Despite the EHRC’s previous expression of concern in a statement released on September 15, 2023, recent findings indicate that such actions persist. The victims include residents who were executed based on suspicions of having connections to the non-state armed group Fano, either through membership or simply questioning the direction of gunfire. Government forces have been found responsible for killing multiple civilians in cities such as Bahir Dar, Ammanuel, Gondar, and others, while non-state armed factions have also carried out attacks resulting in the killing and abduction of civil servants.
The latest report further confirms multiple extrajudicial killings of civilians by government security forces in various locations between September and October 2023. In Bahir Dar City, on October 10-11, several civilians, including a trio of siblings, were reported killed. Similarly, on October 10 in Adet Town, North Gondar Zone, 12 high school students were among the casualties. Furthermore, at least eight civilians were reportedly killed on October 14, 2023, in Amanuel Town, East Gojjam Zone.
One particularly distressing incident occurred on September 29, 2023, near Gendeweyn town, Goncha Siso District, East Gojjam Zone. Security forces intercepted an injured young man who was being transported by his mother and sister to a medical facility. Shockingly, the forces allegedly executed the young man, his mother, sister, and the driver after evacuating the vehicle. According to the report, the executioners justified their actions by claiming that the injured man was a member of rebel groups.
The EHRC report also outlines the extensive damage done to civilian property and infrastructure, as well as looting, disruptions in services and transportation, and the conversion of schools for military purposes. These developments have caused shortages, price increases, and the suspension of production and salaries in some areas.
Daniel Bekele, the Chief Commissioner of the EHRC, emphasized the importance of a peaceful resolution to the conflict, stating, “Civilians, their property, and public infrastructure should never be targeted. It is crucial to ensure accountability, especially for crimes like rape and extrajudicial killings. The displaced populations must receive timely humanitarian assistance, and finding a permanent solution for their return is essential.”
