Eritrea condemned over involvement in Ethiopia's Tigray conflict

GETTY IMAGES: The conflict in Tigray has devastated the lives of many people

NAIROBI, Kenya - A number of Western countries have yet again scolded Eritrea over involvement in the Tigray massacre while calling the government of Ethiopia and authorities in Mekelle to embrace a ceasefire for the sake of stability and humanitarian aid to the country.

Led by Australia, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the countries said they were "profoundly concerned by the escalation of the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis" in the northern part of Ethiopia.

The stakeholders, who have been pushing for talks between the warring parties, said the humanitarian conflict within the region was extremely devastating while calling for the cessation of hostilities. They asked Eritrea to immediately withdraw her troops.

"We call on the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray regional authorities to immediately halt their military offensives, agree to a cessation of hostilities, allow for unhindered and sustained humanitarian access, and pursue a negotiated settlement through peace talks under an African Union-led process," read the statement.

"We also condemn the escalating involvement of Eritrean military forces in northern Ethiopia. We call on Eritrean forces to cease their military operations and withdraw from northern Ethiopia. All foreign actors should cease actions that fuel this conflict."

Multiple reports, the statement noted, including the joint investigation report of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission/Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights and the recent report of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia [ICHREE], have documented human rights abuses committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean government forces, Tigrayan forces, and other armed actors, such as Fano militia, since the start of the conflict in November 2020.

Human rights abuses documented in these reports, they claimed, including unlawful killings, physical abuse, and gender-based violence.  There have been multiple separate reports complimenting their finding in the 23-month conflict which has left thousands of people dead and millions displaced.

"We are deeply concerned by the ICHREE’s finding that there are reasonable grounds to believe that starvation of a civilian population has been used as a method of warfare," they added. "The resumption of fighting in northern Ethiopia raises a high risk of further human rights violations and abuses."

The statement comes just days after the African Union postponed talks that were set to commence in South Africa over a lack of preparations from either side. There were also concerns from Tigray authorities and negotiators like former president of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, who wanted to know the modalities of engagement.

In the statement, the Western countries denounced the killing of innocent civilians by the warring parties, with Eritrea's conduct also questioned. The Eritrean army has been allegedly attacking Tigray from the Western part of Ethiopia, further complicating the situation which has triggered humanitarian concerns.

"We denounce any and all violence against civilians.  We call on the parties to recognize there is no military solution to the conflict, and we call on the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray regional authorities to participate in African Union-led talks aimed at helping Ethiopia achieve a lasting peace."

Any durable solution, they said, must include accountability for human rights abuses and violations. " We also call on all parties to allow unhindered humanitarian access, ensure the safety and security of humanitarian workers, and cooperate with, and facilitate access for, international human rights monitors."

GAROWE ONLINE