Ethiopia: Michelle Bachelet says she is "deeply concerned" by the situation in Tigray

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet in Geneva in December 2020 (Illustrative image).

© DENIS BALIBOUSE / REUTERS

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Coincidentally, Ethiopia voted for the first time since 2018 while the 47th session of the United Nations Human Rights Council opened in Geneva at the same time.

And Tigray, a region of northern Ethiopia, has joined the debates which are due to last until July 13.

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With our correspondent in Nairobi,

Sébastien Németh

The Ethiopian authorities want at all costs to succeed in their elections.

But Addis Ababa is once again overtaken by the Tigrayan file.

This time, at the heart of the highest UN human rights body.

At the opening of the session, Michelle Bachelet said she was "

 deeply concerned

 " by human rights violations in Tigray. The High Commissioner denounced the "

 executions of civilians 

", "

 arbitrary arrests and detentions

 ", "

 sexual violence including against children

 ", or even "

 forced displacement

 ". The former president of Chile, however, took care to specify that abuses had been committed by each camp. 

Ethiopian justice announced that around fifty soldiers were being prosecuted for rape or murder.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed pledged that criminals would be held accountable.

But for the moment, the judicial process remains opaque, while no Eritrean soldier has so far been implicated.

A report expected in August

Michelle Bachelet also cited " 

credible reports 

" showing that Asmara's soldiers were still in Tigray " 

and continued to violate human rights 

", while the Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly promised their departure.

The High Commissioner finally announced that the investigation carried out jointly by the UN and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission should be published in August.

A report eagerly awaited by the international community.

►Also listen: Report Africa - Tigray conflict: terror to Adi Gudem [5/5]

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  • Ethiopia

  • UN

  • Michelle bachelet

  • Abiy Ahmed

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