A year after the signing of a peace agreement between the government and rebels in Tigray province, there are serious concerns about continued human rights violations in the region. According to a recent report presented by a group of UN experts, atrocities, war crimes and crimes against humanity are still being committed, calling into question the validity of the peace agreement.
The report particularly highlights the actions of Eritrean troops who, despite the end of the war, remain present in Tigray and are responsible for numerous human rights violations. Women and girls are particularly affected, being victims of systematic rape and sexual violence. These abominable acts continue to be carried out with complete impunity, despite the commitments made under the peace agreement.
But the situation is not limited to Tigray, hostilities have also spread to other regions of the country. In Amhara, there have been numerous reports of mass arbitrary detentions of civilians since the federal government imposed a state of emergency. In Oromia, government forces are carrying out arrests, detentions and torture of civilians, according to UN experts.
These serious human rights violations highlight the failure of the Ethiopian government to effectively prevent or investigate these crimes. The impunity that reigns in the country is alarming and must be actively combated. UN experts are calling for increased monitoring and independent investigations to end these violations and bring those responsible to justice.
The testimonies collected by the experts bear witness to the appalling reality that persists in the region. Women continue to be victims of sexual violence, with some being victims of gang rape and sexual slavery. Summary executions of civilians have also been reported in several places in Tigray, carried out by Eritrean forces.
These revelations call into question the validity of the peace agreement and underline the urgency of the situation. Concrete steps must be taken to end these human rights violations and ensure that those responsible are held accountable for their actions. It is time for the international community to step up its efforts to end this crisis and allow the Ethiopian people to live in peace and security.