On July 29th, 2023 at around 8pm, 8-year-old Usman Husseen was killed by a stray bullet when ENDF forces fired from close range into his chest. The killing occurred while he was inside his parents compound located in the Fincaawaa town of Dugdaa Dawa District. According to a credible report, that evening there was intense fighting between Oromo Liberation Army and the recently deployed Ethiopian National Defense Force within the residential area of Fincaawaa town.
Eight year old Usman Husseen, was a playful child who was very sociable. After his burial that took place the following day, the locals staged a mass protest to condemn the continued extra-judicial killings of innocent civilians within the area. The local government responded by shutting down the internet.
The photo above displays members of the public gathering during the burial ceremony of late Hussen Godana and followed by protests
Ethiopia National law on Extrajudicial Killings
The rights to life, liberty, and personal security are fundamental principles enshrined in several internationally recognized documents, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), the UN Convention against Torture (CAT), the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR), and the Constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE). As a signatory to these important human rights agreements, Ethiopia bears the responsibility of upholding these rights.
It is imperative that the security forces of the government exercise their authority with great caution ensuring protection of civilians. They must act in accordance with these international human rights norms to ensure the protection and well-being of all individuals.
As a party to these instruments, and the primary duty bearer under international law, the Ethiopian government has the duty to protect the rights of those who live under its jurisdiction. This duty includes not only the obligation for a State to exercise due diligence to prevent violations, but to investigate and respond to such acts when they occur, including by ensuring that the perpetrators are held to account and that the victims’ family has access to justice.