OLLAA has spoken with a family member of Ciibsa Olana Yadata regarding his death at the hands of Amhara regional forces and the Amhara militia group known as Fano. According to our source, Ciibsa was born in Jardega Jarte district, Horo Guduru Wollega zone of Oromia in 1981. He was a husband and father to four children; two daughters and two sons. He graduated with a BA from Rift Valley University and worked as a civil servant in Jarte town until his untimely death.
According to our source, early in the morning of September 22, 2022, the citizens of Jardega Jarte were awakened by the sound of gunfire. Initially, residents did not understand what was happening, but they would later learn that their town had been encircled by the Amhara armed group also known as Fano, supported by members of the Amhara Regional Special Forces. More than 100 Oromo civilians were killed throughout the course of the day by members of Fano and the Amhara regional forces, Ciibsa among them. Our source reports that the attackers found Ciibsa in his home, where they had shot him, causing him to fall to the ground. After he fell, the attackers cut his throat with a knife. As a result of the violence, Ciibsa’s wife and children were displaced and forced to flee the area, along with thousands of others. They currently reside in the Zonal capital, Shambu, but are reporting facing a difficult living situation.
International Law
Under international human rights laws, 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 individuals or groups. In particular, the government is duty-bound to protect its citizens from non-state armed groups and to ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable for violations, particularly to the right to life.
The right to housing and property are also recognized human rights under international human rights instruments such as the UDHR, ICESCR, and ACHPR. Under international law, forced displacement refers to a situation where a person is forced to leave their home, generally due to violence or human rights violations. When they do not cross international borders as a result of their forced displacement, they are referred to as Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs). The UN Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement recognize the right of an individual not to be arbitrarily displaced from their home or place of residence and elaborates upon the rights of those who have been displaced.