Mr. Gelgelu, a 42-year-old farmer, resided in the village of Tujiso, located in Dugda woreda in the East Shoa zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia region. In August 2023, there was a conflict between the Ethiopian government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in the village. On August 12, the government took control of the village.
“The government forces took turns taking civilians down from their houses and beating them asking where the OLA members were.”
According to a family member of Mr. Gelgelu, the government representatives subjected innocent individuals to physical abuse. They reportedly beat them in an attempt to obtain information about the whereabouts of OLA members. Unfortunately, Mr. Gelgelu and his family were taken from one village to another and publicly shot. Mr Gelgelu died immediately, while four other members of his family were also shot but survived and were immediately taken to hospitals for treatment.
The surviving family members are:
- Garba Idao, a 30-year-old primary school teacher.
- Lami Abisho, a young 20-year-old girl and a student in the 11th grade.
- Ayura Dale, a 32-year-old mother and farmer.
- Borbe Hirpho, a 46-year-old mother.
After receiving necessary medical attention at Batu Hospital, they were able to recover and eventually returned to their home. According to Mr. Gelgelu’s family, other innocent people have been killed and arrested in their village. The families of the victims are demanding justice, stating that the government army is not above the law. They demand that the government army be held accountable for their actions.
Photo: Gelgelu Abishu
Source : Family
International Law
International human rights law includes the obligation for States to protect individuals from human rights violations, including violations of the right to life, which is guaranteed under numerous human rights treaties that Ethiopia is a party to, including the UDHR, ICCPR, CRC, and ACHPR. Extrajudicial executions, which involve the deliberate killing of individuals by state agents outside of any legal framework, constitute a violation of this right. The Ethiopian security forces therefore must face the consequences for their actions, which led to the loss of innocent lives and to the denial of justice. They must rightfully take responsibility for the death of Mr. Gelgelu and the injuries of 4 other individuals. Human rights must be prioritized by the government, and those responsible for violating them must be held accountable.