Falls Church, Virginia (07/05/2022) – On July 4th, it was reported that at least 150 people, largely ethnic Amharas, had been killed in a series of attacks launched in the Kellem Wollega zone of Oromia. Today, Angaasaa Ibrahimm, a Member of Parliament for the Oromia Region who previously went on the record claiming that Oromia special police carried out the December 2021 Karayu massacre, has issued a statement claiming the Oromia regional government is responsible for this latest attack. As with many attacks on civilians that occur inside Oromia, initial reports make it difficult to verify the perpetrator of these attacks, especially following the decision to shut down phone communications in the area. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission have claimed that the OLA perpetrated the attack. The OLA has denied this allegation and said that the Ethiopian government was behind the attack.
This is the second mass killing of civilians inside Oromia in recent weeks, following the killing of 338 civilians, including ethnic Oromos, Amharas, and Gumuz civilians, in Tole village on June 18th, and must be understood as part of the widespread pattern of abuses committed against civilians throughout Oromia over the past several years. Following this latest attack, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed claimed that he would “eliminate” the OLA, and credible witnesses have reported to OLLAA that there is a mass movement of Ethiopian federal and Amhara regional security forces into western Oromia, likely leading to further abuses against civilians.
As an organization devoted to the protection of human rights, OLLAA condemns this attack as well as all attacks against Ethiopian civilians. It seems clear to OLLAA that more must be done to raise awareness to attacks committed against civilians of all ethnicities across Ethiopia and to ensure that perpetrators are held accountable. While the Ethiopian government, as the primary duty bearer under international law, has a duty to protect civilians, launch independent investigations into allegations of human rights violations, and ensure perpetrators of such attacks are held accountable, we are gravely concerned that the Ethiopian government has consistently failed to do so. We therefore call on the international community, including the UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia, to independently investigate this attack, as well as all allegations of human rights abuses committed throughout the country.
OLLAA is an umbrella organization that works in collaboration with dozens of Oromo communities around the world.