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The conflict in Ethiopia’s Tigray region is on the brink of a deadly escalation after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gave fighters loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) 72 hours to surrender earlier. the army began an assault on Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. Amnesty International calls on all parties to the conflict to prioritize the protection of civilians and allow access to human rights monitors and humanitarian organizations.
The conflict in the Tigray region has already claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, injured many more and forced thousands to take refuge in camps in neighboring Sudan.
“The conflict in the Tigray region has already claimed the lives of hundreds of civilians, left many more injured and forced thousands to take refuge in refugee camps in neighboring Sudan. As Ethiopian federal troops begin preparations to surround Mekelle, Amnesty International reminds all parties that deliberately targeting civilians and civilian objects is prohibited under international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime. Indiscriminate and disproportionate attacks are also prohibited, ”said Deprose Muchena, Amnesty International’s Director for Eastern and Southern Africa.
As Ethiopian federal troops begin preparations to surround Mekelle, Amnesty International reminds all parties that deliberate targeting of civilians and civilian objects is prohibited under international humanitarian law and constitutes a war crime.
“In addition to complying with this prohibition, the commanders of both the Ethiopian National Army and the TPLF must take active measures to protect civilians during any confrontation, including taking all possible precautions to prevent damage to civilians and civilian infrastructure and avoiding locating military installations and soldiers near concentrations of civilians.
Commanders of both the Ethiopian National Army and the TPLF must take active steps to protect civilians during any confrontation, including taking all possible precautions to avoid harm to civilians.
Amnesty International is particularly concerned about potential civilian casualties after the military spokesman, Colonel Dejene Tsegaye, appeared on state television and said:
“We want to send a message to the public in Mekelle to save themselves from any artillery attack and free themselves from the junta … After that, there will be no mercy.”
Amnesty International calls on all parties to the conflict to:
- Do not target civil facilities such as hospitals, schools and religious institutions and residential neighborhoods.
- Avoid placing military installations such as camps near or in civilian areas, and make sure they do not use civilians as “human shields”.
- Avoid the use of explosive weapons with wide area effect, including artillery, mortars and unguided aerial bombs, in populated urban areas and other concentrations of civilians.
- Ensuring unrestricted access to humanitarian organizations throughout Tigray, where access to much-needed relief aid has been hampered since the start of the military offensive on 4 November.
- Allow human rights monitors access to Tigray.
- Seek the support of regional and international actors to ensure a proper investigation of human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law.
- Immediately restore Internet and telephone communications in Tigray regarding the right to freedom of expression.
