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Scores of people have been stabbed and hacked to death in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, according to Amnesty International.
The claims come as federal troops claimed major advances in their offensive against local forces.
“This is a horrible tragedy,” Amnesty said in a statement, citing witnesses who blamed local rulers, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), for the killings, which it said took place two days ago.
Abiy Ahmed has accused his opponents of committing atrocities
Formerly Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy ahmed he had accused his opponents of committing atrocities during a week of fighting that threatened to destabilize the Horn of Africa.
Mr. Abiy said EthiopiaThe army had defeated local forces in the west of the state.
Airstrikes and ground fighting killed hundreds, sent refugees to Sudan, stirred the country’s ethnic divisions and raised doubts about the credentials of the leader, the youngest in Africa at just 44 years old.
With inactive communications and prohibited means, independent verification of the state of conflict it has been impossible.
Amnesty said the killings took place in the city of Mai Kadra, southwest of Tigray, and witnesses described bodies with wounds that appeared to have been inflicted with knives or machetes.
“Amnesty International has not yet been able to confirm who was responsible for the killings, but has spoken with witnesses who said that forces loyal to the TPLF were responsible for the mass killings, apparently after they suffered the defeat of federal EDF forces. “, said. .
The Ethiopian army has defeated local forces in western Tigray.
There was no immediate response from the Ethiopian government or local Tigray leaders.
Abiy has accused the TPLF of starting the conflict by attacking a federal military base and challenging its authority, while the Tigrayans say they have been persecuted during their two years of rule.
More than 11,000 Ethiopian refugees have crossed into Sudan since the fights started and aid agencies say the situation in Tigray is turning dire.
Even before the conflict, 600,000 people were dependent on food aid.
