Falls Church, Virginia (10/28/2022) – On October 28, 2022, OLLAA, Open Society-Africa, and the Open Society Justice Initiative submitted a complaint to the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights against the Ethiopian government regarding a series of human rights violations it has committed against an Oromo civilian. This complaint invokes several interconnected human rights that are protected by the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other international human rights conventions, including freedom of expression; the prohibition of arbitrary arrests and detention; the right to a fair trial; and the prohibition of torture, cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.
This complaint is emblematic of the human rights violations experienced by Oromo civilians throughout Ethiopia, perpetrated for years at the hands of successive Ethiopian governments. Although in recent years much attention has been focused on the horrors of the Tigray Conflict in Northern Ethiopia, it is imperative that we also recognize and address the abuses being perpetrated throughout the country, and particularly against the Oromo and other southern peoples. The cycle of violence against the Oromo has persisted for generations, and attacks have only increased since the assassination of Oromo singer and activist Hachalu Hundessa in June 2020 and the launch of a new military operation inside Oromia in April 2022. Both state and non-state actors have carried out numerous attacks against Oromo civilians, in blatant violation of their right to life. In addition, Oromos have frequently faced arbitrary arrests and detentions, which are often followed by further human rights violations, including torture and inhuman treatment, extrajudicial executions, and violations of their rights to liberty and fair trial. As noted by OLLAA’s Executive Director, Seenaa Jimjimo, “Ethiopia has become hell for Oromo, where government security forces can execute and torture civilians with total impunity. It is our hope that this complaint draws the world’s attention to these abuses. We have full faith in the integrity and independence of the Commission, and are confident in its ability to make a reasonable and just decision in this matter.”
OLLAA, Open Society-Africa, and the Open Society Justice Initiative intend for this complaint to shed light on the pattern of abuse perpetrated against Oromos, to serve as a vehicle for justice for the complainant, and to encourage the Ethiopian government to implement specific measures to address the persecution of the Oromo people.
OLLAA is an umbrella organization that works in collaboration with dozens of Oromo communities around the world.