Amme Aliyi: Killed in Wollo

In recent weeks, reports have been circulating on social media and OMN regarding the death of Amme Aliyi at the hands of Amhara militia members (Fano) and members of the Amhara regional special forces on April 9, 2023. According to reports, Amme Aliyi Abdealla was born and raised in the Wollo Oromia Special zone of the Amhara region.  He was a husband, father, and farmer prior to his death.

Since 2021, there have been increasing reports of Amhara special forces and Fano militias launching attacks on the Wollo Oromo civilians, leading to reports of the deaths of innocent Oromo civilians, property destruction, and other human rights abuses.  In early April 2023, the Ethiopian federal government announced its decision to dissolve the regional special forces.  In response, on April 9, 2023, these special forces, in conjunction with fano, launched a new round of attacks against the Wollo community. Sources claimed that the regional forces hoped to use this most recent round of attacks as justification to refuse to disarm the Amhara Regional Special Forces by claiming that the OLA had perpetrated the attacks and that the regional forces were necessary in order to maintain peace.

According to reports, Amme Aliyi was killed during this latest attack on April 11, 2023, in a local administrative area known as Baxxe. After killing him, the perpetrators brought Amme’s body to Arsemba-Shewa Robit, where they mutilated his corpse by removing his sexual organs, and chained his body to a cross. According to reports, this inhumane activity was taped and released on social media by the perpetrators. In the video, perpetrators can be seen chanting and singing, “Fanno killed Oneg Shane” (A term used by the Ethiopian government to refer to the OLA). Sources from the community claim that Amme was not a member of the OLA, but simply a farmer. Reports further indicate that a second victim, called Aliyi Husen Jade, was killed in a similar manner. 

International Law:

Under international human rights law, a government has the primary duty to respect and protect the rights of those who live under its jurisdiction. It is therefore the Ethiopian government’s duty to ensure the protection of rights against violations committed by both State actors and by non-state armed groups.  It is also the government’s duty to ensure that independent investigations are launched into all credible allegations of human rights violations and to ensure the perpetrators are held accountable.