The Ongoing Tragedy of Ethnic Cleansing in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region.

Ethnic Cleansing Persists Under Tigray Truce in Ethiopia

Local authorities and Amhara forces in Western Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, have continued an ethnic cleansing campaign against Tigrayans since the November 2, 2022, truce agreement. The Ethiopian government should suspend, investigate, and appropriately prosecute security forces and officials implicated in serious rights abuses in Western Tigray. Human Rights Watch (HRW) has reported that local authorities and Amhara forces have carried out a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tigrayan population in Western Tigray committing war crimes and crimes against humanity. Recent research by HRW found that two officials implicated in abuses, Col. Demeke Zewdu and Belay Ayalew, continue to be involved in arbitrary detention, torture, and forced deportations of Tigrayans.

Ethnic cleansing is not formally defined under international law, but the United Nations Commission of Experts described it as a “purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove by violent and terror-inspiring means, the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas.” International law provides that people forcibly removed from their homes have the right to return. However, the current context in Western Tigray is not conducive for voluntary, safe, and dignified returns of Tigrayan refugees and internally displaced people.

Editorial

The HRW report on ongoing ethnic cleansing in Western Tigray, Ethiopia, is a scathing indictment of the Ethiopian government. The report confirms the extent of the human rights abuses being carried out against Tigrayan civilians and exposes the Ethiopian government’s persistent inaction and lack of interest in delivering justice or protecting citizens. The government’s tolerance of these abuses is a grave violation of its responsibilities under both domestic and international law.

Ethnic cleansing is a crime against humanity, and the fact that it continues to be committed in Western Tigray despite the truce agreement is a cause for alarm. The Ethiopian government must act immediately to halt the ongoing campaign of ethnic cleansing and hold the perpetrators accountable. It should suspend, investigate, and appropriately prosecute all security forces and officials implicated in serious rights abuses in Western Tigray as prescribed by international law. International monitoring and investigations in Western Tigray remain critical, and the international community must play its role to ensure that this does not happen again.

Advice

The continued occurrence of ethnic cleansing in Western Tigray is a reminder that all nations and individuals must act to protect human rights and prevent crimes against humanity. The international community must take a firm stance in supporting HRW’s recommendations and making sure the Ethiopian government takes swift action to deliver justice and accountability for victims of violations. As individuals, we should raise awareness of the crisis and advocate for the Ethiopian government to cooperate with the UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE), established by the Human Rights Council, which has recommended an independent body investigates allegations of torture and ill-treatment. We must continue to stand up against human rights abuses, despite the challenges of doing so. Let us all commit to protecting the fundamental rights and dignity of all people, not just in Ethiopia but also across the world.

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