UN investigation: Serious human rights violations in the Tigray conflict

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About a year ago the conflict over the Tigray region escalated

Photo: YASUYOSHI CHIBA / AFP

According to a United Nations investigation, serious human rights violations have been committed in the conflict over the Tigray region in northern Ethiopia.

It could be war crimes and crimes against humanity, reported a joint commission of the UN human rights office and the Ethiopian human rights commission in Geneva on Wednesday.

"Extreme brutality"

The team documented killings, torture, sexual violence, violence against refugees and the displacement of civilians.

The perpetrators are also to be found in the ranks of the armed forces of Ethiopia and Eritrea, which interfered in the conflict, as well as in those of supporters of the Tigray independence movement.

"The Tigray conflict is characterized by extreme brutality," said the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Michelle Bachelet.

"The severity of the violations and mistreatment documented by us underline the need to bring the perpetrators to account on all sides."

The commission of inquiry visited numerous regions in Tigray and spoke with 269 victims and witnesses, as they reported.

However, they were unable to gain access in some areas.

The military conflict began in early November 2020 when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed began ousting the People's Liberation Front (TPLF), which ruled the Tigray region.

Since the beginning of August, the conflict has spread to the neighboring regions of Afar and Amhara.

The situation of the people is devastating because helpers hardly ever come to the region.

Troops from the Tigray region are pushing further into the interior of Ethiopia, the government declared a state of emergency for the entire country on Tuesday and called on the citizens of Addis Ababa to defend their capital themselves.

svs / dpa