Addis Ababa (Reuters) – A state-appointed human rights commission in Ethiopia has reported that dozens of civilians have been killed in drone strikes and house-to-house searches in the Amhara region. The conflict between state forces and local militiamen, who claim marginalization by the federal government, has escalated since July and is considered the country’s largest security crisis since the end of the civil war in the neighboring Tigray region a year ago. The United Nations, facing difficulties due to disrupted internet connections, had previously documented 183 fatalities in the first month of the conflict.
According to a new report released by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), there have been multiple incidents this month resulting in civilian deaths. One incident involved the killing of 12 civilians, including religious students, in Adet during government forces’ house-to-house searches on October 10. Additionally, a drone strike on October 17 in Berehet Woreda resulted in the death of a 19-month-old child, while another drone strike on October 19 killed eight civilians in Debre Markos.
The report accuses government forces of extrajudicial killings, specifically targeting civilians who were arrested on the streets or during house-to-house searches under the suspicion of providing information or weapons to the militiamen. Despite requests for comment, the Ethiopian government, army, and Amhara’s regional administration have yet to respond. There has been no public acknowledgement from the government regarding allegations of abuse in the Amhara region.
Initially displaced from major cities and towns, Ethiopian forces have regrouped and pushed the militiamen into rural areas. Amhara’s regional administration recently declared improved security and subsequently eased curfews imposed since the outbreak of the conflict. The relationship between Amhara militiamen and the army deteriorated following the integration of the security forces into the police and army by the federal government in April.
Reporting by Dawit Endeshaw; writing by Giulia Paravicini; editing by Aaron Ross and Bill Berkrot
