The Oromo Legacy Leadership and Advocacy Associations (OLLAA) recently released a report that revealed severe violations of civilian rights committed amidst armed conflict in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, particularly in the two Guji zones, over the past five years. The report, entitled “Between a rock and a hard place”, highlighted that civilians have been suffering, and human rights violations in the region have not received proper media attention compared to other armed conflicts in the country.
The report stated that as the conflict between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and government forces escalated, multiple states of emergency were declared, and civilians were forced to pay the greatest price, which was the loss of their security and lives.
According to the report, the security forces of the government are known to arrest civilians based on untrue claims of members or supporters of OLA. The group also identified that extrajudicial killings are among the most gruesome human rights violations currently taking place in the Guji zones. This was attested to in a document obtained from community members.
OLLAA’s report listed some victims of these extrajudicial executions, including seven prisoners executed in various Guji zone prisons, such as Galma Utura, Dhadacha Mi’essa, and Abdulahi Golu, who were all removed from Raro prison in Goro Dola district on 28 September 2019 and executed, as confirmed by Amnesty International in 2019.
The report also revealed that incidents of killings in the areas are so frequent that in January 2022, government security forces publicly executed 14 civilians in Birbirsa Kojawa Ela Dima town in the West Guji zone. It was also reported that 18 civilians were shot dead and burned in their homes in Fincawa district on 28 December 2018.
The report indicated that both the OLA and the government’s security forces routinely abduct civilians and children, who end up being traumatized, forced to discontinue their education and sometimes forced to take up arms to fight against their captors.
According to the OLLAA, following protests against the formation of a new East Borana zone, the government took measures that claimed the lives of some of the protesters while physically injuring others. Mi’essa Hessa, Nenqo Wate, and Guyo Xephiso were the three protesters shot and killed during the February 28, 2023 protest by Oromia special forces. During the protest, a considerable number of other protesters and non-protesters were arrested and detained in various facilities.
The OLLAA urged the conflicting parties to cease hostilities and negotiate to prevent the numerous and intersecting human rights violations civilians are facing due to the armed conflict. The first round of talks held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, between representatives of the OLA and the government concluded without an agreement, but consensus was reached on the need to continue the talks.
