Forces of the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have executed at least 482 civilians in areas they have controlled in Afar and Amhara regions of Ethiopia, a report has said.
A joint investigation report revealed on Friday by Ethiopia’s Federal Police and office Attorney said the killings were committed following the declaration of unilateral humanitarian ceasefire by the Ethiopian government in late June 2021.
Another 165 civilians have sustained severe injuries that led to some form of disability. The report said 109 women were raped. A seven months pregnant woman was reportedly raped for three.
The TPLF forces took the war to these regions with the hope of controlling corridors to Sudan and Djibouti – a mission that rather turned out to be a mirage.
During the presser by the Attorney General Office, it is indicated that the Federal Attorney General, Federal Police and regional investigative authorities took part in the investigation.
Specific areas of the two regions where the TPLF carried out human rights violations are identified. The investigation focused on the areas that came under the TPLF control after the withdrawal of Ethiopian Defense Force from Tigray and were later liberated by the Ethiopian Defense Force.
In South Gondar, the districts of Nefas Mewucha, Guna Begemdir, Farta, Este and Debretabor areas are experiencing the rights abuse.
In North Gondar, Dabat, Debark and Zarema districts are among areas where the TPLF forces unleashed abuses ranging from executions to other forms of abuses, not to mention destruction of private properties and looting.
In the Afar region, Galicoma, Ewa, Awura and Guilna districts were affected by TPLF arbitrary killings and other rights abuses.
MG/abj/APA