Over 50 Civilians Killed in Ethiopia Attacks: Rights Body

Last month, over 50 civilians fell victim to attacks in Ethiopia, according to a report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) released on Wednesday. The EHRC, an independent state-affiliated body, revealed that the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), designated a "terrorist organization" by Addis Ababa, was responsible for killing 17 people and destroying villages in the Benishangul-Gumuz region, adjacent to Oromia.

The OLA has been engaged in conflict with the government since 2018, following its separation from the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) when the latter renounced armed struggle. In addition to the incidents in Benishangul-Gumuz, the EHRC reported that 30 individuals were killed in the Arsi zone of Oromia in a series of attacks by unidentified assailants. The victims included members of the same family, with the attackers reportedly lining up some victims outside their homes before carrying out the killings.

The EHRC report detailed the tragic circumstances, including the deaths of an infant, pregnant women, and an 80-year-old elderly person. The attacks occurred between November 23 and 29, shortly after talks in Tanzania aimed at resolving the five-year insurgency concluded without agreement on November 21.

The Oromo ethnic group, constituting about a third of Ethiopia 120 million inhabitants, has been at the center of the conflict. The OLA, though believed to lack significant organization and weaponry, has faced accusations from the government of orchestrating massacres, which the rebels deny. Simultaneously, authorities have been criticized for an indiscriminate crackdown that has intensified Oromo resentment. The EHRC  findings underscore the urgent need for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia.