The UN has alerted the international community about Eritrean troops’ ongoing human rights violations in Tigray. Despite a ceasefire agreement, the EDF continues operations, resulting in serious abuses including rape and abduction. Calls for accountability remain unheeded, aggravating impunity in Eritrea, where human rights conditions are deteriorating without reform.
The United Nations has issued a warning regarding the ongoing human rights abuses committed by Eritrean troops in Ethiopia’s Tigray region. Despite international demands for accountability, impunity remains prevalent. During the Human Rights Council’s 58th session, Ilze Brands-Kehris of the UN Human Rights Office noted that the Eritrean Defense Forces (EDF) have not withdrawn as mandated by the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement established in November 2022.
Brands-Kehris cited a 2023 investigation by the Joint OHCHR-Ethiopia Human Rights Commission, highlighting serious violations by the EDF, including abductions, rape, and property looting. She pointed out that the EDF’s ongoing operations in Tigray are fostering an environment of impunity, leading to further human rights violations. The UN official called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the region.
International human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have corroborated these findings by documenting continued abuses such as sexual violence and looting by Eritrean forces. A report from Addis Standard has also detailed accounts of abductions in the town of Zalambessa, where residents live in fear due to the presence of these troops.
The now-defunct International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) reported that without proper accountability for the violations committed, impunity will persist, potentially leading to future atrocities. Brands-Kehris expressed concern about Eritrea’s lack of reforms in its legal and justice systems and emphasized the country’s repression of basic freedoms, leading to individuals being detained without trial.
She urged Eritrea to cooperate fully with international human rights mechanisms and engage with UN bodies, particularly the Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea. Brands-Kehris called for significant justice sector reforms and accountability measures to address the ongoing human rights violations.
The UN has highlighted the continued human rights abuses by Eritrean troops in Tigray, stressing the importance of accountability and the immediate withdrawal of forces. Organizations have documented severe violations, contributing to a climate of fear among locals. Eritrea’s failure to reform its justice systems exacerbates the issue, underscoring the urgent need for international cooperation and legal reform.
Original Source: addisstandard.com
