War Crimes and Crimes Against Humanity: Unveiling Eritrea’s Actions in Ethiopia

Amnesty International Reports Eritrean Forces Committing Atrocities in Tigray

Evidence of War Crimes and Potential Crimes Against Humanity

Amnesty International has released a new report detailing the horrific atrocities committed by Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Despite the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) between Ethiopia‘s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022, EDF soldiers engaged in widespread human rights abuses, including rape, sexual slavery, pillage, and extrajudicial executions.

According to testimonies from witnesses, survivors, and family members cited in the report, EDF soldiers were responsible for the extra-judicial execution of at least 20 civilians in Mariam Shewito district between 25 October and 1 November 2022. A social worker in the area also provided a list of over 100 names of people who were extra-judicially executed, although Amnesty International was unable to independently verify all the cases. Furthermore, for nearly three months after the CoHA, EDF soldiers raped and sexually enslaved women and extrajudicially executed 24 civilians in Kokob Tsibah district.

These grave violations of human rights constitute war crimes and potentially even crimes against humanity, as they occurred during a non-international armed conflict governed by international humanitarian law. The report provides detailed accounts of survivors identifying the perpetrators through their camouflage, the Tigrigna dialect spoken by the soldiers, and the nature of the interrogation questions asked.

Rape and Sexual Slavery: Unspeakable Horrors Endured by Women

Amnesty International interviewed 11 survivors of rape and sexual slavery in Kokob Tsibah district, where over 40 women reported being subjected to these heinous acts after the signing of the CoHA. Some women were raped inside EDF military camps, others in their own homes or homes seized by the EDF. The report highlights the case of Fanta, who was raped by five EDF soldiers for three consecutive days and held captive with 14 other women in an EDF military camp for three months. Shockingly, the women endured repeated rapes and were denied access to medical support or contact with their families.

The survivors interviewed for the research did not receive post-sexual violence care or comprehensive medical treatment until after the EDF forces left Kokob Tsibah on 19 January 2023. It is crucial to administer prompt post-sexual violence care within 72 hours to provide preventive measures for sexually transmitted infections and pregnancy. The absence of such care demonstrates a failure to adequately support survivors and fulfill obligations under international law.

The cases of rape and sexual slavery documented in Kokob Tsibah are indicative of a widespread or systematic attack on the civilian population and may constitute crimes against humanity, as established by previous investigations by Amnesty International.

Extrajudicial Executions and Pillage

The report also exposes the intentional killings of civilians, predominantly men, by Eritrean soldiers in Mariam Shewito and Kokob Tsibah districts. These extrajudicial executions took place during house-to-house searches conducted by the EDF, purportedly in pursuit of members of the Tigrayan forces. Testimonies from survivors reveal alarming details of civilians being shot dead, including a 70-year-old priest at St. Michael Church in Kokob Tsibah district.

In addition to the killings, Eritrean soldiers engaged in pillaging, looting the properties and livestock of the victims. The consequences have been devastating, with many survivors forced to rely on family members for shelter and food, while others have resorted to begging for survival.

International Accountability and Action

Amnesty International stresses the urgent need for effective investigations into these violations. Both Eritrea and Ethiopia have a legal obligation to conduct thorough investigations and, where sufficient evidence exists, prosecute individuals responsible for crimes under international law, including war crimes and crimes against humanity. These proceedings must adhere to international standards of fair trial and must not involve the death penalty.

To ensure accountability and support future efforts, Amnesty International calls for the renewal of the mandate of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) during the upcoming session of the United Nations Human Rights Council. Additionally, the organization urges the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights to rescind its decision to terminate the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry on the Situation in the Tigray Region of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, established in May 2021.

The mounting evidence of atrocities committed in Tigray demands swift and decisive action. Amidst continued gross human rights violations and abuses, and with limited prospects for domestic accountability, international mechanisms must play a crucial role in preserving evidence, supporting survivors, and ultimately bringing the perpetrators to justice. The world cannot turn a blind eye to these heinous crimes; it is our collective responsibility to ensure justice and prevent such atrocities from recurring.

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