REPORT: Crimes against humanity committed in Tigray

NAIROBI, Kenya - The World Health Organization [WHO] boss Dr. Tedros Adhenom maintains that crimes against humanity are being committed in Ethiopia, adding that the United Nations Human Rights Council should not be dismissed because it's "anchored on facts".

Adhenom, who hails from the war-torn Tigray, has been on the frontline calling the world to investigate ongoing mass murder in the Tigray region, which he maintains has subjected thousands of people to unprecedented deaths besides being thrown out of their homes.

In a tweet, Dr. Adhenom said the report by experts was a true reflection on the evils being committed in the Horn of Africa nation, adding that banking services, telecommunication, and humanitarian aid have been a major concern within Tigray in the last couple of months.

"UN’s International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia has concluded that ‘crimes against humanity have been committed in Tigray, weaponizing food, medicines, telephone, banking services deliberately to seal off the population and denying them humanitarian aid," he said.

His concerns come as the world's top leaders continue persuading Ethiopia's government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front [TPLF] to embrace a ceasefire and pave way for African Union-led mediation to end the 23-month-long conflict in the country.

The report by the UN Human Rights Experts pointed at serious rights violations in Tigray were “ongoing”, noting that fighting resumed last month, breaking a five-month ceasefire. Renewed fighting was activated three weeks ago following airstrikes by Ethiopian Air Force.

“Extrajudicial killings, rape, sexual violence, and starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare” have happened in Ethiopia since the earliest days of the conflict, the Council heard.

Citing information from “credible sources”, Commission chairperson Kaari Betty Murungi – who like the two other members of the panel is an independent UN-appointed rights expert - said that there had been an “escalation” in drone attacks by Government forces that used explosive weapons “with wide area effects in populated areas” since hostilities resumed.

“Our investigation indicates that their use has exposed civilians to new and heightened risks,” she said. “We have received reports of drone strikes in Tigray in the last four weeks, which have allegedly killed and injured civilians, including children.”

Turning to Tigrayan forces, Ms. Murungi insisted that they had also likely committed serious human rights abuses “which amount to war crimes”.

These included “large-scale killings of Amhara civilians, rape and sexual violence, and widespread looting and destruction of civilian property in Kobo and Chenna in August and September 2021.

“During their searches of homes in Kobo, for example, Tigrayan forces looked for weapons and pulled many men from their homes, executing them, often in front of their families. There is hope that the two parties will embrace a ceasefire in the coming days for the sake of peace.

Ethiopia's Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has been on the receiving end of crimes against humanity, but he accused TPLF of being the "obstacle" to peace and stability. The PM was the Nobel Peace Prize winner for 2019 and has been under criticism over his approach in the Tigray region.

GAROWE ONLINE