This report is part of OLLAA’s monthly report series documenting the ongoing pattern of human rights abuses perpetrated against Oromo civilians, both inside Ethiopia and throughout the world. These reports also document the humanitarian situation inside Oromia, including the effects of the drought and conflict on civilians.
Violence Against Civilians:
Picture from Burial of Gobu Hawile in Karra, Oromia, Photo Credit Roba Bulga Jilo
In April, OLLAA received multiple reports of attacks against Oromo civilians perpetrated by both state agents and non-state armed actors. In one instance, it was reported that a leader of the Kayau Oromo, Gobu Hawile, died after being beaten by Ethiopian security forces in the same location as the December 2021 Karayu massacre. It was also reported that several civilians were injured after members of the Oromia regional forces attempted to use force to disperse protesters over the demolition of homes in Sheger city.
On April 9, 2023, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the Ethiopian government had made the decision to dissolve all branches of regional security forces throughout the country and reintegrate them into national security structures. This decision was marked by protests from the Amhara community, who claimed it was a “ploy to weaken the Amhara people.” Many of these protests took place at universities in the Amhara region, and, in one incident, it was reported that six Oromo students at Debre Markos University were beaten by protesters. There were also reports that Amahra regional forces, at times, operating in conjunction with the Amhara militia group known as fano, launched attacks on Oromo residents in the Wollo Oromia special zone in response to the decision. In one incident, it was reported that an Oromo civilian was killed by fano and that, after he died, his body was mutilated and chained to a cross.
Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions
Pictures of five of the missing OLF Officials, Photo Credit: Addis Standard/Social Media
Throughout Ethiopia, Oromo civilians frequently face arbitrary arrests and detentions, which are often followed by further human rights violations, including enforced disappearances, extrajudicial executions, and violations of their rights to due process and fair trial. As part of its advocacy efforts, OLLAA has long followed reports surrounding the arrest and continued detention of several prominent leaders of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) political party since 2020, many of whom remain detained to this day despite court orders for their release. On April 19th, the OLF”s Public Relations head, Lemmi Gemecu, told media sources that seven of these detainees–Abdi Regassa, Michael Boran, Kenasa Ayana, Dr. Gada Oljira, Dawit Abdeta, Lemmi Begna, and Gada Gebissa–were removed from Burayu prison the previous night. As of today, their whereabouts remain unknown.
Peace Talks Begin in Tanzania
OLLAA has been closely following the growing calls for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in the Oromia region over the last several months, including the response to our open letter to the Ethiopian government and the OLA, which urged both parties to initiate peace talks. In late April, the Oromo community at long last received a positive sign that the conflict in Oromia might come to an end when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced that the two parties had agreed to participate in peace talks in Tanzania beginning on April 25, 2023. Shortly after this announcement was made, the OLA issued a statement confirming that they would be participating in peace negotiations and that the Ethiopian government had agreed they would involve, “an independent third-party mediator and a commitment to maintain transparency throughout the process.”
Although, at this time, many details about the negotiations process are unavailable, it has been reports that the governments of Kenya, Norway, and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) have been selected as the facilitators for the peace talks. Media sources report that the Ethiopian government is represented by Dr. Gediyon Temotiyos, Ambassador Reduwan Huseen, Kafalo Tafaraa, Major General Demissew Amenu, and Bonsa Ewunetu, while OLA representatives include Jiregna Gudata, Professor Mohammed Hassan, Taha Abdii, Dr. Banti Ujulu, and Ejerso Urgessa. Other sources have claimed that the United States and the European Union are “interested in participating in the peace process,” although their involvement has not been confirmed.
Since the peace talks began on April 25th, Odaa Tarbii, the OLA’s spokesperson has noted that they are in the initial phases of the process and that they hope to use them to, “establish a foundation for more extensive discussions in the very near future.” Meanwhile, Nuur Mohamed Sheekh, the spokesperson for the Executive Secretary of IGAD, has reported that the process is, “Ethiopian-led-Ethiopian-owned,” and stated that, “we hope [it] will lead to a political agreement.”
Drought Update
Photo showing the effects of failed rainy seasons on livestock in the Horn of Africa, Photo Credit, Michael Twelde/WFP
The Oromia region of Ethiopia is currently experiencing a perilous humanitarian situation and increasing food insecurity due to a number of factors, including drought and conflict. Residents of Oromia have claimed that the humanitarian assistance provided thus far has been “insufficient and slow to arrive,” and a regional spokesperson, Hailu Aduga, claimed that, “The aid is not enough given the number of those who are in need.” On April 10, 2023, USAID announced that it had distributed food aid to drought-affected communities in the Borana zone that “benefits over 850,000 people.”
According to the most recent report from UN OCHA, heavy rains and flash flooding in the Borana zone have affected 27,000 IDPs, leading to the destruction of shelters and increasing their risk of exposure to disease outbreaks, such as cholera, which continues to plague the East Bale, Guji, and Borana zones of Oromia, as well as parts of the Somali region. According to a UN OCHA report from early April, 3.3 million people are currently at high risk of contracting the disease. In response, in April, the Ethiopian Ministry of Health requested 1.2 million cholera vaccines from the World Health Organization.
Freedom House Releases Annual Report on Ethiopia
In April, Freedom House released its 2023 Freedom in the World report on Ethiopia. This report again classified the country as “not free.” As part of their calculation, Freedom House considered numerous issues inside Oromia, including, among others, the ongoing conflict in Oromia, reports of killings of Oromo civilians by state and non-state armed actors, and the heightened military presence and control in parts of Oromia. They also noted reports of Oromos being arrested for purported connections to the OLA, and the continued detention of several OLF leaders since 2020, despite court orders for their release.
Response from International Community
United Nations
Seenaa Jimjimo speaks with VOA Afaan Oromoo regarding UN Communication
On February 13, 2023, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, the Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances, and the Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary, or arbitrary executions sent a communication to the Ethiopian government regarding the December 2021 Karayu Massacre. This communication, which became publicly available on May 15, 2023, was based on a submission made by OLLAA to the United Nations Special Procedures in the weeks following the incident, and calls on the Ethiopian government to respond with details about the alleged violations of human rights, as well as steps taken to investigate the allegations and to ensure “the protection and promotion of the identity of the Karayu Oromo community in Ethiopia.” Following the publication of the letter, OLLAA’s Executive Director, Seenaa Jimjimo, spoke with VOA Afaan Oromoo about its significance, including its potential to help the Karayu Oromo achieve justice.
International Community Moves Towards “Normalization” of Relationship with Ethiopia
It appears that several countries and intergovernmental bodies are beginning to take steps towards the normalization of their relationship with Ethiopia following the end of the conflict in northern Ethiopia, and despite continued reports of conflict and human rights abuses in Oromia. On April 4, 2023, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrel, gave a joint press statement in which they praised Ethiopia for finding a resolution to its “major crisis,” and noted that they will, “only normalize our relations in a gradual way, step by step.” On April 24th, the European Union Council said they were looking forward to, “a normalization of relations with Ethiopia,” following the implementation of the peace agreement signed between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF in November 2022, although they noted their “serious concern” regarding allegations of human rights abuses and violence in the Oromia and Amhara regions. On April 26th, the Ethiopian Foreign Affairs Ministry released a statement welcoming the steps the EU signalled it was ready to take to normalize relations.
Other intergovernmental groups and countries have also made recent statements praising the Ethiopian government for the peaceful settlement of the conflict in northern Ethiopia, and leaving the door open for positive engagement with the country. On April 7th, the IMF released a statement following the conclusion of its visit to Ethiopia and noted that they had “made progress” in their discussions regarding IMF support for Ethiopia’s proposed reform program. On April 18th, the G7 Foreign Ministers released a communiqué that welcomed the signing of the peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF. On April 19th, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau spoke with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and congratulated him on the November 2022 peace agreement, and discussed, “the ongoing work to secure financing for reconstruction and recovery in Ethiopia’s conflict zones.”
Conclusion and Recommendations
The Oromo have faced systematic human rights abuses at the hands of multiple Ethiopian governments. Despite the repressive tactics they have faced for generations, they have, time and again, sacrificed their lives to advance human rights in Ethiopia, including by leading the peaceful protests that led to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s rise to power in 2018.
Unfortunately, over the last two years, the situation for the Oromo has only worsened, particularly following times of relative peace in northern Ethiopia. Since the signing of the peace agreement between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government in November 2022, there have been increasing reports of attacks against civilians, both by Ethiopian security forces and non-state armed actors. As documented above, these trends continued in April 2023. OLLAA believes that the international community must do more to pressure the Ethiopian government to protect human rights and find a peaceful settlement to the conflict inside Oromia.
As such, OLLAA calls on the international community to:
- Condemn the human rights violations noted in this report, as well as all other credible allegations of human rights violations throughout the country;
- Consider launching independent investigations into reports of human rights violations committed inside Oromia and across the country, and support the work of the UN International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia;
- Support efforts to find a peaceful means to end the conflict in Oromia;
- Ensure provision of humanitarian assistance to all who need it across Ethiopia, including inside Oromia;
- Ensure the Oromo are included in any transitional justice measures, including inclusive dialogue processes.