Ethiopia: End use of lethal and excessive force against civilians in Amhara and Oromia regions

Press statement

The Association of Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE) expresses deep concern over the Ethiopian Government’s continued use of excessive and unnecessary lethal force against protesters in both, Amhara and Oromia region. AHRE calls on the Ethiopian authorities to immediately stop use of excessive and unnecessary lethal force by security forces against protesters in both regions and elsewhere in Ethiopia. AHRE also calls for the immediately and unconditionally release of journalists, human rights defenders, political opposition leaders and thousands of protesters who were arbitrarily detained during and aftermaths of protests.

Local and international human rights organization reported that around 600 demonstrators have been killed in both regions. Only in Oromia region more than 500 were killed since December 2015. The intensified and widely spread protests in several cities and towns of Norther Amhara region have costed the life of dozens protestors. During the three days protest, 5-7 August 2016, around 100 were killed and money others were wounded by security forces in different location of Amhara and Oromia regions.

Another round clash broke out on Monday, 29 August 2016 after a three days ‘stay at home’ protest in Gondor and Gojjam. According to local sources, in the last four days more than 50 protestors have been killed and many others sustained injuries by security forces live bullets in different cities and towns of Norther Amhara region. AHRE received reports and gathered the following information from local sources. From 29 August 2016 to 1 September 2016, in Gonder, at least 11 people were killed and money others injured in Simada town, 7 people, including 4 security officials were killed in Debark town, 8 people were injured in Dur Bete town, 10 people were killed in Metema town and many others also wounded, at least 20 people were killed in Amba-Girogis town and 14 people were killed in Gaint town.

On 30 August 2016, it is reported that 4 protestors were killed in Bahir Dar town and many other were wounded. The protest intensified to several cities and towns in Gojjam. The authorities have also arbitrarily arrested thousands of people throughout Amhara region and according to AHRE’s sources those detained in different military camps are being held without charge and without access to family members or legal representation.

AHRE urge the Ethiopian authority to:

• Immediately cease the use of excessive and unnecessary lethal force by security forces against protesters in Amhara and Oromia regions;
• immediately and unconditionally release all protestors, human rights defenders, journalists and political leaders who were arbitrarily detained during and in the aftermath of the protests;
• ensure that those responsible for human rights violations prosecuted and being accountable for their action;
• facilitate access for international human rights monitoring bodies including the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to conduct thorough, independent, impartial and transparent investigations into the ongoing human rights violations in Amhara and Oromia regions.

For further information, please contact:
yaredh@ahrethio.org, +32 486 336 367, Association for Human Rights in Ethiopia (AHRE)