CIVICUS speaks with Jerusalem Girmay, Chief Communications Officer of Omna Tigray, about the state of emergency imposed in Ethiopia and its implications for the Tigray region.
Omna Tigray is an international civil society organisation with members in Australia, Canada, the USA and Europe, focused on fighting injustice, advocating for peace and economic development and amplifying the voices of people in Tigray.
What’s currently happening in the Tigray region of Ethiopia?
The situation in Tigray is dire and has been marked by several concerning recent developments. One of the most pressing issues is the increasing death toll due to starvation following the suspension of food aid delivery by the US bilateral agency USAID and the World Food Programme. Over 1,000 people have already lost their lives due to lack of food, with no definite timeline for the resumption of aid delivery.
The healthcare situation is also intensifying, with patients suffering from chronic illnesses unable to access medication. The lack of essential medicines has already resulted in the deaths of some patients, highlighting the urgent need for medical supplies.
Additionally, a new wave of internally displaced persons (IDPs) is fleeing western Tigray in an attempt to escape further atrocities and hunger. Some have sought refuge in IDP camps in northwestern Tigray. Ethnic cleansing campaigns persist in towns such as Tselemti, where residents report daily torture and killings, forcing them to identify as ethnic Amharas. IDPs in camps elsewhere face harsh conditions exacerbated by poor weather, as heavy rains have caused flooding and affected shelter conditions.
The presence of the Eritrean army in Tigray, which advanced into various areas in western Tigray in August, adds to the region’s complex and fragile security situation.
The latest report from the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia documents atrocities perpetrated ‘by all parties to the conflict’ since 3 November 2020 – the start date of the armed conflict in Tigray – including mass killings, rape, starvation, destruction of schools and medical facilities, forced displacement and arbitrary detention.
How are Ethiopian authorities dealing with human rights violations by Eritrean troops?
The Ethiopian government continues to allow and tolerate violations by Eritrean troops in Tigray. During the conflict in Tigray, they contributed to abuses by running collaborative operations with Eritrean forces, obstructing humanitarian access, imposing media and communication restrictions and making limited efforts to establish credible investigation and accountability mechanisms.
The continued presence of Eritrean forces in Tigray, especially after the signing of the Pretoria Agreement that supposedly ended the conflict, only fuels human rights abuses. For justice and accountability and to achieve lasting peace and stability in the region it is crucial that these concerns are addressed.
Why has the Ethiopian government pushed for an end to the involvement of international human rights bodies?
The Ethiopian government’s push to end the involvement of international human rights bodies such as the United Nations International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights Commission of Inquiry reflects its lack of commitment to transparency and accountability and reluctance to address human rights violations, particularly in Tigray. The government’s proposed transitional justice policy, ‘Policy Options for Transitional Justice in Ethiopia’, was formulated without any substantive and meaningful input from victims – particularly those from Tigray, who have suffered the most from these atrocities – and grassroots organisations. The international community must advocate for continued independent investigations and accountability for human rights violations in Ethiopia.
What is the situation in the rest of Ethiopia?
There is a broader human rights crisis in Ethiopia that extends beyond Tigray. Reports indicate that human rights violations, including violence and displacement, persist in various regions throughout the country.
Successive declarations of a state of emergency, with the most recent imposed on 3 August, have significantly restricted civic space by limiting freedoms of assembly, expression and movement. The Ethiopian government has suppressed civil society and silenced dissenting voices.
In Tigray, these measures exacerbated preexisting challenges, impeding people’s ability to advocate for their rights. The repercussions of these restrictions were especially severe, considering the concurrent humanitarian crisis and conflict. These limitations have had profound consequences in Tigray and across the country, obstructing efforts to address human rights violations.
How has the international community responded to the conflict and crisis?
The international community has responded with varying degrees of concern. While sanctions imposed by the European Union and the USA on some Ethiopian officials have sent a strong message, more international support is necessary to protect human rights and hold perpetrators of violations accountable. Diplomatic efforts and humanitarian aid must be increased to effectively address the ongoing crisis in Tigray and throughout Ethiopia.
Get in touch with Omna Tigray through its website or its Facebook page, and follow @OmnaTigray on Twitter and Instagram.
Civic space in Ethiopia is rated ‘repressed’ by the CIVICUS Monitor.
