The UN gave the green light on Friday (December 17th) to an international mechanism for investigating the abuses committed over the past year in Ethiopia, a decision which will “exacerbate the situation on the ground” according to Addis Ababa.
A resolution to this effect was adopted at the end of a special session of the Human Rights Council (HRC) devoted, at the request of the European Union, to "the serious human rights situation in Ethiopia ".
"Neocolonialist mentality"
For Ethiopian Ambassador Zenebe Kebede to the UN in Geneva, multilateralism has "once again been held hostage by a neocolonialist mentality".
"The accusations leveled against my country are unfounded," he said, assuring that the decision taken would "exacerbate the situation on the ground".
"Ethiopia is being targeted and blamed at the Human Rights Council for defending a democratically elected government, peace and the future of its people," he added.
African countries, through the representative of Cameroon, Ambassador Salomon Eheth, had supported Ethiopia, explaining that such an investigation mechanism "is counterproductive and likely to exacerbate tensions".
The resolution calls for the creation of an "international commission of human rights experts".
Three experts will soon be appointed and will then have the heavy task of investigating and gathering evidence on human rights violations in the country at war, with the aim of identifying, as far as possible, those responsible.
Worsening of the situation
In a joint investigation with the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, created by the Ethiopian government, the UN concluded in early November of possible crimes against humanity committed by all actors.
According to the Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights, Nada Al-Nashif, the UN continues "to receive credible reports of serious violations and human rights abuses committed by all parties".
"It is essential that those responsible are held accountable for their actions in an independent, transparent and impartial manner," EU Ambassador Lotte Knudsen said after the vote.
"More than a year after the start of the conflict in Tigray, the continued deterioration of the security and humanitarian situations, which now affects all regions of northern Ethiopia, constitutes a threat to the stability of the country and to the region. ", underlined for his part the French ambassador Jérôme Bonnafont.
"The danger of a rise in hatred, violence and discrimination is very high, and could escalate into widespread violence. This could have major consequences, not only for millions of people in Ethiopia, but also throughout Ethiopia. the region, "Al-Nashif also said.
Between 5,000 and 7,000 inmates
War erupted in November 2020 after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent the army to Tigray in November 2020 to remove local authorities from the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) who challenged his authority. and that he accused of having attacked military bases.
Mr. Abiy proclaimed victory three weeks later, after the capture of the regional capital Mekele.
But in June, the TPLF retook most of Tigray and continued its offensive in the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar.
After effectively ruling Ethiopia for almost 30 years, the TPLF was gradually removed from power when Mr. Abiy became Prime Minister in 2018.
The conflict in Ethiopia has left several thousand dead, more than two million displaced and plunged hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians into conditions bordering on famine, according to the UN.
The UN also deplores that thousands of people have been arrested under the state of emergency, declared on November 2 by the government, and calls for independent observers to be allowed to access all places of detention.
According to Al-Nashif, between 5,000 and 7,000 people are currently detained - the majority of ethnic Tigrayans, including 9 UN staff.
With AFP
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