The United Nations (UN) on Thursday called for an independent investigation into war crimes and crimes against humanity in Ethiopia’s troubled Tigray region reported Africa News.
In a statement issued in Geneva, the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet said the UN office has managed to corroborate information on some incidents that occurred in November last year, indicating indiscriminate bombings in the towns of Mekele, Humera, and Adigrat in the Tigray region.
She said that the office even verified reports of serious violations and abuses by Eritrean armed forces including massacres in Aksoum and Dengelat in central Tigray.
“Serious violations of international law, which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, may have been committed,” the statement added.
The UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said there is a clear need for an objective and independent assessment of the situation. She urged the Ethiopian government to let UN investigators access Tigray to establish the facts and help ensure accountability, regardless of the origin of the perpetrators.
Ms. Bachet also mentioned reports of sexual and gender-based violence, extrajudicial killings, widespread destruction, and looting of public and private property by all parties.
“Without prompt, impartial, and transparent investigations and without holding those responsible accountable, I fear that (human rights) violations will continue to be committed with impunity and the situation will remain volatile for a long time to come,” the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights said.
Last year, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered the offensive after accusing the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), of attacking federal army camps. In late November, he declared an end to the military operation in Tigray with the capture of Mekele, but authorities fleeing the region promised to continue the fight and fighting has been reported since.
