ETHIOPIA has strongly condemned a statement by the UN Under-Secretary-General and Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, labelling it ‘irresponsible and reckless.’ In a statement issued by Ethiopia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, Addis Ababa expressed deep regret that Nderitu, entrusted with the crucial responsibility of preventing genocide, has made ‘unsubstantiated allegations and inflammatory remarks’ against the country.
Ethiopia has emphasised that the UN report, on which the statement was based, lacks a comprehensive on-the-ground investigation and was compiled remotely from unreliable sources. The Ethiopian government is determined to ensure the full implementation of the peace agreement with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and is in the final stages of formulating a Transitional Justice Policy to ensure accountability and justice, the statement stated.
In her earlier statement, Nderitu raised concerns about the heightened risk of genocide and related atrocity crimes in the Tigray, Amhara, Afar, and Oromia regions of Ethiopia. She called for global attention to the presence of risk factors for genocide and related atrocity crimes in the country and underscored the suffering of innocent civilians.
Nderitu cited reports of entire families being killed, loved ones forced to witness horrific crimes, and communities being displaced or expelled from their homes. She called for a commitment to preventing impunity and prioritizing actions to prevent further atrocities.
A recent report by the UN’s International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia found that all eight common risk factors for atrocity crimes and most specific risk factors are present in Ethiopia. The report highlighted continuing human rights concerns in the country, including extrajudicial killings and crimes against humanity in the Amhara region.
The conflict between Ethiopian government forces and Tigray rebels began in November 2020, leading to widespread displacement and casualties. While peace agreements were reached in late 2021, the situation remains deeply concerning.
The Tigray conflict has resulted in significant casualties and displacement, with millions in need of humanitarian assistance. A UN report from last year indicated that 2.75 million people were displaced, and 12.5 million children urgently required humanitarian aid.
