Addis Ababa:

In the northern part of Ethiopia, fighting and human rights abuses are still happening one year after the signing of a truce by the federal government and rebels. According to Africa Director at Human Rights Watch Laetitia Bader, the civilians in conflict zones of Ethiopia are bearing the brunt of atrocities over the past year since the truce was signed by the government with the Tigray separatists on November 2 last year in South Africa’s Pretoria.

While the truce mentions key measures to protect civilians, restart basic services and provide humanitarian assistance apart from creating a transitional justice policy aimed at accountability, truth, redress and reconciliation, it lacks details on criminal accountability for crimes committed.

It was also agreed by both sides to establish an African Union to monitor the agreement. However, it is alleged that the Union’s effort is focused mainly on the disarmament of Tigray fighters’ heavy and medium weapons. It does not include human rights and gender monitors or public reporting on violations of the pact.
Human Rights Watch is alleging that during the past year, both sides have committed rights violations that go against the provisions of the November agreement.

It is alleged that Eritrean troops still remain in the country and they engage in killings, sexual violence, kidnappings, pillaging and preventing humanitarian assistance. The armed conflict began in November 2020 and it has left millions of people displaced and in need of humanitarian assistance. Though basic services began to be restored in the restive Tigray region, banking and other services remain cut off in parts of the region.