Ethiopian Authorities Must Investigate Rebel Abuse
Ethiopian authorities must investigate abuses committed by Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) rebel group fighters, Amnesty International said on Friday.
A new report by the human rights organization accuses the rebel group of committing sexual violence and torture against civilians since 2019, which it said necessitates investigation by the Ethiopian government.
The prominent rights group alleged the rebel group which is active across vast areas of Ethiopia’s largest region, Oromia of committing rapes, gang rapes and sexual slavery particularly against women and girls.
Amnesty also accused the rebel group of destroying civilian properties and causing mass displacement of civilians. The human rights group stated these alleged abuses amount to war crimes.
In a press statement sent to media outlets, Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, said severe rights abuses are happening in the midst of communication and media blackout across large areas of Oromia region.
Tigere called upon Ethiopian authorities to launch immediate, impartial and comprehensive investigations into the atrocities with the aim of bringing to justice abusers and remedy for victims and survivors.
AI also called on OLA to order that all its fighters to respect international humanitarian law and international human rights law as well as disarm and demobilize its fighters accused of several rights abuses.The Oromo Liberation Army hasn’t responded to Amnesty’s allegations as of the time of the report’s publication.
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