Disclaimer: This is an English translation of EHRCO statement and is intended solely for information purposes.
Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) - Statement from EHRCO concerning recent killings and acts of inciting conflict
November 27/2024 (Hedar 18/2017 E.C.)
The EHRCO at various times has issued regular statements, special statements and emergency statements calling on the government to seek a peaceful resolution to end conflict in various regions of our country. In the context of these conflicts, killings, abductions and enforced disappearances of citizens has expanded to an alarming level which has hindered the right to life, the right to safety and security and freedom of movement which we have expressed in repeated statements.
However, the federal and regional governments have failed to take tangible and adequate actions to end the human rights violations, and their failure to respect, enforce and fulfill these human rights in accordance with their responsibilities has caused the problem to worsen day by day. And more recently, EHRCO has come to understand that various acts have been carried out across major media platforms and elsewhere which have the potential to instigate civil conflict and lead to severe human rights violations.
Following the recent killing of a young man by militants in Dera Woreda and the surrounding area of North Shewa Zone in Oromia Region, messages of incitement towards conflict were published across social media pages which could trigger anger among communities. EHRCO denounces the killing and these activities. EHRCO calls on relevant government actors to give due attention to the matter, carry out corrective measures and ensure perpetrators of the killing and those who made incitements of conflict face accountability.
Therefore, EHRCO calls on community elders, religious leaders, civic organizations and media personnel to denounce the killings which followed these acts of incitement, and to promote accountability against those who perpetrated and continue to perpetrate these acts. EHRCO will continue to closely monitor this matter and make findings available in the future.
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
