OLLAA has spoken with credible sources regarding the life and untimely death of Moibon Bekele Garba on October 13, 2022. Moibon was born in Kiramu, East Wollega Oromia in 1989, and began working to advance the rights and interests of the Oromo as a small child. In many ways, his story is the story of all Oromo youth.
While studying Public Health at Jimma University, Moibon was imprisoned on multiple occasions by the EPRDF government, who accused him of organizing and participating in Oromo-led protests. On one occasion, he was detained in the notorious Mekelawi detention center, which was known as a “torture center,” for five months without any criminal charges. Then, he was transferred to Kilinto penitentiary, where he survived a deadly fire that led to the death of 23 other inmates, before again being transferred, this time to Shewa Robit prison facilities. Finally, after serving a one year and six month sentence, Moibon was released from the prison. After his release, he attempted to re-enroll at Jimma University, but his application was rejected. Since that time, Moibon went on to have a highly successful career. Not only was he a member of the Oromo Liberation Front’s (OLF) central committee, he was also an author, and worked for Ethiopia Telecom. Above all, he will be remembered for his significant contribution to the Oromo struggle for freedom.
According to our sources, this was not Moibon’s last brush with law enforcement. Recently, he had been arrested and detained for several months without charges. According to our sources, although the Ethiopian government security forces eventually released him after 9 months in detention, they threatened to kill him if he ever participated in politics again, noting that he would not be lucky enough to be arrested again.
After surviving all the imprisonments, torture, and inhumane treatment, Moibon was assassinated on October 12, 2022 in Finfine/Addis Ababa. According to media reports, he was shot by unidentified assailants at some point between 7-8pm near his home in Sansusi, and was pronounced dead at 11:30pm. This day was a black day for all freedom loving Oromos. Since that time, no arrests have been made in his case, and no perpetrators have been brought to justice. According to our sources, the government has shown no sign of effort to obtain justice for Moibon’s unlawful killing, including by failing to launch an independent investigation into his death.
International Law
Multiple international human rights instruments that Ethiopia is signatory to, including the ICCPR and ACHPR and UDHR guarantee the right to life, which is seen as a fundamental right. Under these laws, a government has the primary duty to respect and protect the rights of those who live under its jurisdiction. This duty includes not only the obligation for a State to exercise due diligence to prevent violations, but to investigate and respond to such acts when they occur. 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, and to launch prompt, thorough, independent, and impartial investigations into credible allegations of human rights violations.