We are determined to safeguard human rights, Ethiopia says

ADDIS ABABA - The Federal Republic of Ethiopia says it is keen to safeguard human rights, despite criticism directed towards Addis Ababa for the last couple of years under the stewardship of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, a Nobel Peace Prize Laurette, having won the coveted prize in 2019.

In a statement issued on Friday, Ethiopia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs dismissed a UN report warning of a “very real and imminent risk of atrocity crimes” in Ethiopia, saying that Addis Ababa has been working to ensure accountability, reconciliation, healing, and truth-telling through a credible, nationally-owned and driven transitional justice mechanism.

“After a robust, intensive, and participatory process, the Transitional Justice Policy is in its final stage,” said the Foreign Ministry.

According to the statement by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Transitional Justice Policy will be endorsed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the coming weeks. The statement comes three days after UN experts warned “imminent risk of atrocity crimes” in Ethiopia.

Human Rights Experts from the United Nations claimed Ethiopia is one of the countries where abuse of human rights is imminent, adding that there is a need for the Horn of Africa nation to reform. The country has been also facing internal challenges such as the Tigray war and conflict in the Amhara and Oromia regions.

The report also warned that nearly a year following the ratification of the peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the prevailing human rights conditions in the country continue to be deeply concerning, AFP reports.

Abiy Ahmed has been pushing for reconciliation for the last two years, with a ceasefire prevailing in the Tigray region where thousands of people are said to have died. Ethiopia's internal reforms triggered ethnic clashes which have been a major destabilization factor for the last two years.

GAROWE ONLINE