Arrest and Detention of Oromo Youth After Attending Thanksgiving Festival

Oromo Youths Arrested and Detained After Traditional Annual  Thanksgiving Festival in Various Parts of Oromia Region of Ethiopia.

On October 8th, 2021, OLLAA received a verified report of the illegal arrest and detention of  dozens of Oromo youths heading back to their homes in the Jimma Zone and Arsi Zone of Oromia on October 4th, following their participation in the traditional Irreecha festival in Addis Ababa the previous day. The reason for their arrest and detention remains unclear.

On the same day, in the town of Jimma at a place called Ajippi, it was reported that at around 2pm local time Oromia police agents broke into a private shop owned by one Mr. Mahammadzeen Nuura without any legal order. In the background of the food shop they found the shop owner and his friends enjoying the Irreecha celebration. The police agent accused Mr. Nuura and his friends of being members of the outlawed Oromo Liberation Army. OLLAA is yet to receive the full identity of Nuura’s friends. They were forcefully arrested and detained at an undisclosed location.

This confirmed report goes on to state that many Oromo youth are being detained with similar fates in the Jimma Zone of Oromia. In an appalling breach of justice, most are detained without due process. On many occasions they have been tortured and detained for long periods of time without access to a court of law. 

The same allegation has been made in the Arsi Zone of Oromia, according to Oromia Media Network outlets. With allegations that dozens of Oromo youths were arrested, beaten and tortured in the Darrabba town of Suudde district as they headed back to their homes after attending the traditional thanksgiving ceremony in Addis Ababa on October 4th.

A distressed photo of Mr.Nuura (on the far left end) and his colleagues. Photo courtesy of the official Oromia Media website

OLLAA has also received a provisional list containing the names of individuals detained in various parts of the Oromia region of Ethiopia, both during and after attending the Irreecha festival in Addis Ababa and Bishoftu.  The list is not exhaustive and we will continue gathering more information for accountability purposes.

What is the right to security of the person and freedom from arbitrary detention?

The right to personal liberty requires that individuals are not subject to arrest and detention except as provided for by law, and provided that neither the arrest nor the detention is arbitrary. This right applies to all forms of detention where people are deprived of their liberty. The right to security requires the country to provide reasonable measures to protect a person’s physical security.

Where does the right to security of the person and freedom from arbitrary detention come from?

Ethiopia is party to seven core international human rights treaties. The right to security of the person and freedom from arbitrary detention is contained in article 9 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The rights protected by article 9 of the ICCPR are: the right to liberty and to not be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention; to security; to be informed of the reason for arrest and any charges; to be brought promptly before a court and tried within a reasonable period, or to be released from detention; to challenge the lawfulness of detention. Article 9 also provides that persons should not generally be detained in custody pending trial. Release may be made subject to certain guarantees.

The Ethiopian government has violated the right to security of its citizens – as provided by the Ethiopian Constitution – by forcefully arresting Oromo youths, detaining them without charges, not informing the reason of arrest, and refusing to release them. OLLAA calls on the Ethiopian government to immediately release all Oromo youths arrested and detained during and after the Irreecha festival.

A table with the names of the detained individuals can be found below:

No	Name	Gender	Place  of Arrest	Date of arrest	Place of Detention
1	Abdallaa Mijuu	M	Addis Ababa	04/10/2021	Meksiko, Addis Ababa
2	Salladdin Abdii	M	>>	>>	>>
3	Gaddisaa Aliyyi	M	>>	>>	>>
4	Aanaa Tajuddiin	M	>>	>>	>>
5	Magarsaa Abdii	M	>>	>>	>>
6	Ibsaa Aliyyii	M	>>	>>	>>
7	Tamamam Hajji	M	>>	>>	>>
8	Shamsuu Junaddin	M	>>	>>	>>
10	Habtamu Taye	M	>>	>>	Bishoftu town
11	Sisay Abarra	M	Bishoftu	>>	>>
12	Kamal Waliyii	M	Bishoftu	>>	>>
13	Sissahu Tesfaye	M	Bishoftu	>>	>>
14	Hussein H.Amaan Amaan	M	Bishoftu	06/10/2021	>>
15	Masfin Yaazoo	M	Bishoftu	>>	>>
16	Asammino Mulatu	M	Bishoftu	>>	>>
17	Tolasa Dinka	M	>>	>>	>>
18	Biqilaa shaaroo	M	>>	>>	>>
20	Dirriba Tasfaayee	M	>>		>>
21	Shallamaa Bulti	M	>>	>>	>>
22	Abdulaziz Idriis	M	>>	>>	>>
23	Sanyi Iyyaasuu	M	>>	>>	>>
24	Shallamaa Bulti	M	>>	>>	>>
25	Dhufeera Tammiraat	M	>>	>>	>>
26	Lammi Tasfaaw	M	>>	>>	>>
27	Araarsa Tarrafaa	M	>>	>>	>>
28	Abdurrahmaan Huseen	M	>>	>>	>>
29	Tamaam Hajjii	M	>>	>>	>>
30	Zaawudee hayiluu	M	>>	>>	>>
31	Lammii Magarsa	M	>>	>>	>>
32	Taddasaa Nugusee	M	>>	>>	>>
33	Shiallis Tammiraat	M	>>	>>	>>
34	Olaanaa Guttataa	M	>>	>>	>>
35	Taddasaa soorsaa	M	>>	>>	>>
36	Alamuu baayuu	M	>>	>>	>>
37	Tokkummaa Dagaagaa	M	>>	>>	>>
38	Qalbeessaa dagaagaa	M	>>	>>>	>>
39	Maatiyoos Toonee	M	>>	>>	>>
40	Boonaa Gammachuu	M	>>	>>	>>
41	Tasfaayee Taammiruu	M	>>	>>	>>
42	Taddalaa Salamoon	M	>>	>>	>>
43	Tolasaa Dinqa	M	>>	>>	>>
44	Birhaanu Darribee	M	>>	>>	>>
45	Gaddisaa kabbadaa	M	>>	>>	>>
46	Araarso Takkala	M	>>	>>	>>
47	Asaamminoo Mulaatuu	M	>>	>>	>>
48	Ganamos Baabsoo	M	>>	>>	>>
49	Doojii Nagash	M	>>	>>	>>
50	Soorsaa Kumsaa	M	>>	>>	>>
51	Caalaa Ifaa	M	>>	>>	>>
52	Maammush Isheetuu	M	>>	>>	>>
53	Sisaahu Tasfaaye	M	>>	>>	>>
54	Ridwaan Muktaar	M	>>	>>	>>
55	Tibbeesso Mi’eessoo	M	>>	>>	>>
56	Diittaa Tishoomaa	M	>>	>>	>>
57	Ayyallaa Wario	M	>>	>>	>>
58	Gaddafaa Boru	M	>>	>>	>>
59	Mirkanee Tadessa	M	>>	>>	>>
60	Mudaasir Hussien	M	>>	>>	>>
61	Abdi Hussien	M	>>	>>	>>