Falls Church, Virginia (02/03/2022) – As previously reported by OLLAA, on December 1, 2021, Ethiopian security forces interrupted the political and religious Gadaa ceremony in Motomoa/Karra village, Fantaalee District, Oromia. The security forces abducted 39 Karayu Oromo and killed 14 of them that afternoon, including the Abba Gada and Abba Boku, religious leaders of the Karayu. Two abductees managed to escape, and the remaining 23 captives were detained near Moju for approximately one month, where one further abductee died.
On February 2, 2022, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) issued its report on the Karayu massacre. Their findings echoed much of what had already reported on the incident, and concluded that there were “reasonable grounds to believe that the killings are extrajudicial killings” by government security forces, including both the execution of the 14 Gadaa leaders on December 1, and the individual who later died while in their custody. Daniel Bekele, the head of the EHRC, has called for a criminal investigation to be launched into the incident.
On February 3, following the release of this report, the Oromia Police Commissioner announced they had arrested two individuals who they suspected were connected to the attack, and that they expected this would be followed by further arrests. However, it must be noted that Angaassaa Ibraahim, a Member of Parliament, who had previously accused the Oromia police commission of ordering the killings, responded with another statement where he posited that the persons who had been accused of the crime were local leaders who were being targeted because they were suspected of leaking information about the attack. He also claimed that it is clear that the government had killed in “cold blood” and that those at the “top”, who gave the order, must be held to account, not just those police who committed the act.
OLLAA has previously condemned the attacks against the Karayu Oromo as a form of religious targeting, and reiterates its call for the Ethiopian government and the international community to ensure that the victims and their families receive real justice for this attack. Increasing awareness of this incident is not enough. The Ethiopian government must ensure that independent, thorough, and impartial investigations are launched into the killings and detention of Karayu leaders, that the perpetrators are brought to justice, and that the victims and their families receive proper restitution. All branches of the Ethiopian government must review their policies and practices to ensure that such heinous acts are never committed again, and that the Karayu Oromo are able to live in peace, with their rights to life and freedom of religion or belief fully respected. We also urge the international community to consider launching independent investigations into this attack.
OLLAA is an umbrella organization that represents dozens of Oromo communities around the world.