Falls Church, Virginia (10/8/2021) – On October 7, 2021, the European Parliament voted to adopt a resolution on the humanitarian situation in Tigray. OLLAA conducted advocacy with key actors from various political groups to ensure that the resolutionās text reflected the needs of all Ethiopians, and did not focus on the conflict in Tigray as an isolated event. We were pleased to see that the final text of the resolution did just that (Available here).
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OLLAA supports the resolution’s calls for an independent and impartial commission of inquiry to investigate attacks targeting specific ethnic groups throughout Ethiopia; for Ethiopia to ratify the Rome Statute of the ICC; and for an inclusive national political dialogue to find a solution to the crisis, including representatives from all the affected areas (Tigray, Amhara, Benishangul-Gumuz, Afar, Oromia, Sidama, Somali, Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoplesā Region (SNNPR), and Gambella). We also appreciated the calls for the Ethiopian government to address long standing human rights issues, such as forced disappearances of civilians and the need to release those detained without credible evidence of a crime.
OLLAA believes that this resolution presents a strong text that supports the human rights of all Ethiopians, not just those in Tigray and the northern regions. OLLAA plans to use this resolution as an example in our advocacy with other governments on how to address the concerns of all parties in Ethiopia when discussing the crisis.
Since 2016, OLLAA has continually urged the international community to recognize that lasting peace and regional stability can only be achieved through an inclusive dialogue that includes the voices of all ethnic groups in Ethiopia. OLLAA will continue to support calls for such a dialogue, and firmly believe that it should be spearheaded by an independent party.
OLLAA is an umbrella organization that represents dozens of Oromo communities around the world