The UN warns that Eritrean troops continue to commit human rights abuses in Tigray, despite a 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. Reports from various organizations highlight crimes, including abductions and sexual violence, amid an ongoing culture of impunity. Assistant Secretary-General Ilze Brands-Kehris calls for immediate withdrawal of EDF troops and urges Eritrea to reform its justice system and cooperate with international human rights bodies.
The United Nations has issued a stern warning regarding the ongoing human rights violations by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Despite calls for accountability, these troops have largely escaped consequences for their actions. At the 58th session of the Human Rights Council on February 27, Assistant Secretary-General Ilze Brands-Kehris indicated that the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) continue to operate in Tigray, flouting the conditions of the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement that demanded their withdrawal.
Brands-Kehris referenced the Joint OHCHR-Ethiopia Human Rights Commission Investigation Team’s findings from 2023, which identified serious violations committed by the EDF, including abductions, rape, looting, and arbitrary detentions. She emphasized that the prevailing impunity only serves to embolden those committing human rights abuses. Consequently, she called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Tigray.
Various international organizations have reported on the abuses perpetrated by Eritrean troops during and after the conflict in Tigray. The 2024 Human Rights Watch report described ongoing violations, such as sexual violence and civilian property theft. Furthermore, testimonies from residents of Zalambessa reveal a pervasive climate of fear, where individuals avoid venturing outside at night due to the presence of Eritrean soldiers.
The now-defunct International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) also noted the EDF’s persistent presence in Tigray, warning that failure to establish accountability for such violations would perpetuate a culture of impunity, devoid of deterrents against future atrocities. Ilze Brands-Kehris further criticized Eritrea for not enacting meaningful reforms within its legal and justice systems to align them with international standards.
She raised concerns regarding indefinite military service, enforced disappearances, and severe restrictions on rights such as expression, assembly, and association. Many individuals, including politicians, journalists, and individuals evading military service, face incommunicado detention without trial. Brands-Kehris urged Eritrea to fully cooperate with international human rights mechanisms and engage with UN bodies to facilitate necessary justice sector reforms and ensure accountability for ongoing violations.
In summary, the UN’s assessment underscores the alarming persistence of human rights abuses by Eritrean forces in Tigray and highlights a significant lack of accountability and political will to address these violations in Eritrea. The ongoing situation poses serious threats to human rights and regional stability, necessitating urgent international attention and action.
Original Source: addisstandard.com
