Throughout the month of January 2023, the Ethiopian government continued its brutal assault against the citizenry of Oromia. When taken together, this presents stark evidence of a continued and widespread campaign of violence against the Oromo people by their own government. The majority of the confirmed killings of Oromo civilians in January were perpetrated by the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF)–often in conjunction with regional forces, such as Benishangul-Gumuz regional special forces, Oromia Special Forces (OSF), and federal police–and by non-state armed militia groups, including Fano. At times, it was reported that Fano operated in conjunction with Amhara regional forces in these attacks.
The below list highlights the 23 people confirmed by OLLAA or mass media reports as having been extrajudicially killed in January. It is important to note that this list is an incomplete accounting of those killed extrajudicially in January 2023 as it does not include victims of mass murder, those whose names are unknown, or whose reported deaths OLLAA’s staff was unable to verify independently by the time of publication. It is likely the true number of extrajudicial killings is much greater than the number reported below. For example, during the month of January, OLLAA’s staff received numerous reports of human rights abuses–including 34 additional reports of extrajudicial killings–perpetrated against Oromos that have not been independently verified as of the time of publication of this report. Lammii Gammachuu, the spokesperson of the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) political party, has recently claimed that 60 Oromo civilians have been killed by Amhara regional security forces in the Wollo Oromia Special zone of the Amhara region on January 20, 2023.
Confirmed Extrajudicial Executions in January 2023
- January 5
- Jibiri Jamal, Abdallaa Jamaal, Maammad Zeen, Abdallaa Hasan, Kaliif Adam, Xeeybuu Adam, Maammad Kadir, Jaafar Ramatallaa, and Maammad Sulma (West Wallaga, Begi, Ya’a Marsa)
- January 13
- Waata Gobana (West Guji, Galana, Wacu
- January 17
- Dawit Belay (West Wallaga, Lalo Assabi, Arroji Sardo)
- January 24
- Ali Haji Galata, Abbishuu Ida’oo, and Gurmu (Arsi, Jaju, at a police station)
- January 30
- Cana Dhadacha (East Guji, Liban, Kalada)
- January 31
- Maammad Umar ((West Hararge, Mi’esso, Dire Oda)
OLLAA’s staff was able to confirm that the extrajudicial killings of the following individuals by members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and Oromia regional Special Forces during the month of January:
- January 8
- Daraje Girma (Ilu Aba Bora, Darimu, Beena 3)
- January 11
- Kalia Hasan (West Wallaga, Begi, Giba Gulaso)
- January 12
- Boke Garamu (West Shewa, Cobi, Qoricha Koticha)
Finally, OLLAA’s staff was also able to confirm that Ramadan Huseen was killed by members of a local militia in the Awaday kebele of the East Hararghe zone on January 7, 2023. They also confirmed that two individuals were killed in an attack by Fano and Amhara regional security forces in Jile Dhumuga, in the Wollo Oromia Special zone of the Amhara region:
- January 20
- Arbiye Aliye and Aliye Umar (Wollo, Jile Dhumuga, Itu)
OLLAA urges the Ethiopian government to fulfill its moral imperative, as well as its legal duty, to protect and defend the human rights and security of all of its citizens, including by launching independent investigations into all credible violations of civilians’ right to life. Furthermore, OLLAA calls on the international community to take action, including by condemning these incidents and launching independent investigations into these reports of human rights violations and injustices against the Oromo people in Ethiopia. We believe all actors must act swiftly in the name of peace and justice.