One year after the signing of a peace agreement between the government and rebels in the Tigray region, serious human rights violations continue to occur. This is the central finding of a report presented last week by a group of UN experts to the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva. On November 2, 2022, a peace agreement was signed between the Ethiopian federal government and rebel authorities in Tigray, effectively ending two years of conflict. However, according to these UN experts, violations persist in Tigray, and hostilities have even spilled over into other regions of the country.
According to the group of experts, atrocities, war crimes, and crimes against humanity are ongoing in the nation. In Tigray, for instance, Eritrean troops, which came to support the Ethiopian army and Amhara militias, are still present despite the formal cessation of hostilities. They continue to commit grave violations, including systematic sexual violence and rape against women and girls.
The commission issues a stark warning: hostilities have extended to other regions. In Amhara, there have been reports of massive arbitrary detentions of civilians, particularly since the federal government declared a state of emergency there last month. In Oromia, government forces have been accused of making arrests, detaining civilians, and subjecting them to torture, according to UN experts.
This troubling report underscores the pressing need for international attention and action to address the ongoing human rights crisis in Ethiopia. The violations persist despite the promise of a peace agreement, and the international community must remain engaged in efforts to restore stability, protect civilians, and ensure accountability for those responsible for these grave violations. The United Nations and concerned nations must continue to monitor the situation closely and take measures to address this ongoing tragedy in Ethiopia.