Report on the massacre of at least 15 civilians and injury of several others by Oromo Prosperity Party regime forces in Bahir-Dar city, Amhara Region, Ethiopia
Updated September 16, 2024
Executive Summary
The Amhara Association of America (AAA) has conducted a human rights investigation into the reported brutal massacre in Bahir-Dar city, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. Accordingly, AAA’s sources have confirmed that between August 20th and 21st, 2024, Oromo Prosperity Party (OPP) regime soldiers executed at least 15 civilians and injured several others in Bahir-Dar city.
Details of Incident
On the night of August 20th, 2024, OPP regime forces launched sudden gunfire on the streets of Bahir-Dar city, regional capital of Amhara Region which resulted in killings and bodily injuries of unarmed civilians. Among the targeted victims were young women and two students with visual impairment, highlighting the indiscriminate nature of the attack.
According to AAA’s investigations, earlier that day, at around 3 p.m., Fano fighters had engaged in an attack on a regime vehicle in Kebele 4. Afterwards, there was no military action until the massacre occurred in Kebele 6, which is located a significant distance from Kebele 4. The attack happened in the area specifically known as Selassie Pharmacy around 7 p.m., with no military activities taking place at that time.
Eyewitnesses and survivors recounted the harrowing sequence of events as follows. Two visually-impaired friends, both 11th-grade students, were returning home from a local hotel where they had dinner. As they navigated the streets hand in hand, they suddenly found themselves caught in a hail of automatic gunfire. Despite waving their white canes and shouting to signal that they were blind and pleading for safety, the soldiers continued firing without regard. The injured victim, identified as Haile [name changed for security reasons], was struck first, collapsing on the ground after being struck by three bullets. The injured victim’s friend, Setegn Moche, was also shot three times in the face and fell to the ground. Setegn died on the spot, while Haile survived, sustaining critical injuries to his leg and hand.
The surviving victim, Haile, described the situation as follows:
“I heard the gunshots. When the soldiers ordered us to stop, we tried to explain that we were blind, but they shot at us immediately. I don’t remember what happened next. I awoke in a hospital, later learning that my friend [Setegn Moche] had died.”
The injured victim also recounted that he endured a night of suffering alone while injured before being transported for medical care the following morning. To add to his distress, he reported that the soldiers confiscated his mobile phone, depriving him of the ability to communicate and seek help in the immediate aftermath.
Both victims originally hailed from families which faced financial hardships in the Gonder sub region (north-western Amhara Region) and so they strived for a better life through education. The deceased victim, Setegn Moche, was a 27-year-old student pursuing his studies at Fitawrari Secondary School in Bahir-Dar Zuriya Woreda (North Gojjam Zone). His body was laid to rest at the cemetery of Dibaqe-Medhanialem Church in Bahir-Dar city. The surviving victim, Haile, a 22-year-old student, was receiving treatment at Felege-Hiwot Specialized Hospital and was discharged after three weeks. He returned to his home in Ibnat (South Gonder Zone), relying on his sister for support. However, he reported ongoing difficulties, including bleeding from his wounded foot while attempting to walk.
According to information collected from informants and credible media outlets, several others, including sex workers and small business proprietors, were also killed or injured in the same incident. A witness, who chose to remain anonymous for safety reasons, told a AAA investigator that he was involved in retrieving the bodies of the victims who had been killed and observed over 8 dead bodies scattered along the ground. The witness also stated that several others were lifted immediately and taken to the hospital and to their families. The witness recalled two women, a mother and daughter, who were shot while working in the street, selling eggs and potatoes. The mother, identified as Misa Kinde, estimated to be approximately 35-years-old, was killed in the incident. Her body was buried at the Dibaqe-Medhanialem Church cemetery. Misa was survived by her two young daughters, including Beza [name changed for security reasons], who was 16-years-old at the time and was present with her mother when she too was struck and injured on her hand. The surviving victim, Beza, was set to enter 9th grade this year. The witness also confirmed that three of the deceased victims were sex workers, including one identified as Yabsira (last name unknown), who was shot and killed in the same incident.
In a separate incident that occurred on the same day, regime soldiers also killed a priest identified as Aweke Yenesew. Aweke was shot and killed while walking to church late at night in the Abay-Mado area.
Victim Names and Photos
AAA was able to identify names of 17 civilians who were killed or injured between August 20th and 21st, 2024 by OPP regime forces in Bahir-Dar city of Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
AAA received photos of 22-year-old Haile who suffered injuries during violence perpetrated by OPP regime forces on August 20th, 2024 in Bahir-Dar city.
Comments