Ethnic Cleansing and Crimes Against Humanity in Ethiopia’s Western Tigray Zone

What is Happening in Ethiopia’s Western Tigray Zone?

Many reports of ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity have emerged in Ethiopia’s Western Tigray zone. The Ethiopian civil war is now entering its 16th month of brutal conflict. Under the rule of the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, Abiy Ahmed, the Ethiopian military, ethnic militias and Eritrean troops are fighting to oust the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (T.P.L.F.) from Western Tigray.

Mr Abiy tried diminishing the T.P.L.F.’s power and influence which has dominated Ethiopian politics for almost thirty years. The prime minister declared a state of emergency in November 2020 when Tigrayan fighters surged toward the capital in revolt against the government. Nevertheless, Mr Abiy forced the Tigrayans back to their northern homeland, but the conflict continued. Armed forces from the neighbouring Amhara region, who entered Tigray to support Mr Abiy, are “deliberately and efficiently rendering Western Tigray ethnically homogeneous through the organized use of force and intimidation”.

Also Read: Ethiopian Crisis: What is Behind the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis?

Killings, Rape and Crimes Against Humanity in Western Tigray Zone

Armed forces have been waging a campaign of ethnic cleansing against the Tigrayans. Furthermore, Ghent University has estimated that more than half a million people died in the war. Furthermore, more than two million people are displaced, pushing parts of the region into famine-like conditions. Ethiopian authorities have severely restricted access and independent scrutiny of the region, which has resulted in any reports of ethnic cleansing mainly kept concealed.

Furthermore, these widespread human rights violations include killings, rape, mass detentions, and forcible transfers. In April 2022, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (H.R.W.) stated in a joint report that these abuses amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity. This comprehensive report contains information from 427 interviews with survivors, family members and witnesses. In addition, the World Health Organization’s Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, an Ethiopian, stated that there is “nowhere on earth where the health of millions of people is more under threat than in the Tigray region”.

Also Read: Ethiopian Crisis: What is Behind the Worsening Humanitarian Crisis?

What is ‘Ethnic Cleansing’?

International human rights law for not formally define ‘ethnic cleansing‘. However, the United Nations Commission of Experts investigated violations of international humanitarian law in the former territory of Yugoslavia. During this investigation, ‘ethnic cleansing’ was described as a “purposeful policy designed by one ethnic or religious group to remove the civilian population of another ethnic or religious group from certain geographic areas by violent and terror-inspiring means.”

The United Nations consistently uses ‘ethnic cleansing’ in resolutions, reports, judgments and indictments of individuals accused before international courts and tribunals.

Ethnic Cleansing in Western Tigray Zone

Hundreds of Thousands Expelled From Their Homes in Western Tigray Zone

Amhara forces, militias, and recently appointed authorities began a coordinated campaign of ethnically targeted persecution against the Tigrayans in late 2020. Moreover, Tigrayans were instructed to leave through signs posted across the Western Tigray zone. Shockingly, 24-hour or 72-hour ultimatums to leave or be killed were issued to local civilians forcing thousands of Tigrayans into long-term overcrowded detention centres. Additionally, human rights groups believe that thousands remain in these centres facing life-threatening circumstances. There are reports of security forces using gang rape, abduction, sexual slavery and physical and verbal abuse against Tigrayans.

Ethiopian paramilitaries have systematically expelled several hundred thousand Tigrayan civilians from their homes. There are reports of unlawful killings, sexual violence, arbitrary mass detention, pillage, forcible transfer, and the denial of humanitarian assistance by Amhara forces. The map below shows the region of Western Tigray.

Moreover, human rights groups have highlighted the Ethiopian government’s complicity in these violations against the Tigrayan people in their recent investigations.

“Ethiopian authorities have steadfastly denied the shocking breadth of the crimes that have unfolded and have egregiously failed to address them”

Kenneth Roth, Director of Human Rights Watch.

Tigrinya Language Banned Across Western Tigray Zone

Since November 2020, there has been a ban on the Tigrinya language across the Western Tigray zone. Signs across the region tell locals that they must speak Amharic. This can be difficult for Tigrayans when dealing with administrative work or accessing essential services. Tigrinya music is prohibited, and Amhara forces physically beat those who use this language for any purpose.

New Identification Cards Issued and Personal Documents Confiscated

The Amhara region has selectively issued new identification cards across Western Tigray. Consequently, this has limited the rights of those who have not received a new card. Hence, many Tigrayans are refused identity cards, as authorities claim “they do not deserve it”. The new identification cards grant civilians free movement throughout the region. Additionally, they provide access to essential services and the right to submit complaints. Many locals have no access to life-saving health services and medicines due to these discriminatory restrictions imposed.

Also Read: Ethiopia: millions still cut-off from the urgent humanitarian aid.

Therefore, this is the Amhara forces’ way of forcibly removing the Tigrayan civilian population from the Western Tigray region. Hence, Amhara forces confiscated and destroyed many of the Tigrayans’ documents. This severely hinders Tigrayans’ ability to access services and continue to live everyday life in the region. Amhara forces are implementing these measures of ‘ethnic cleansing’ to support Mr Abiy in his pursuit of eliminating the T.P.L.F. and the Tigrayan ethnicity from the region.

Dozens of Civilians Killed by Suspected Crimes Against Humanity

The Ethiopian government has carried out many airstrikes killing thousands of people throughout the conflict. In January 2022, an airstrike hit a school compound at Dedebit, where thousands of displaced Tigrayans were staying. There were no signs of military targets at the compound, which strongly implies that this was not an accidental attack. The airstrike killed 57 civilians, mainly women, children and older adults, sleeping in tents.

The number of government airstrikes in Tigray increased dramatically in December 2021. Approximately 304 people died and 373 injured in attacks between November 2021 and February 2022. Any violations of the laws of war committed with deliberate or reckless criminal intent are classified as war crimes.

What Happens Next?

H.R.W. has held that the Ethiopian authorities should ensure that humanitarian organizations have immediate access to the region to deliver aid and essential services.

It is imperative to release all those arbitrarily detained and investigate and appropriately prosecute those responsible for abuses such as ethnic cleansing, war crimes and crimes against humanity. If the two parties reach a consensual agreement, then the African Union should deploy international peacekeeping forces to the region to ensure everyone’s safety.