A new report issued by the United States-based New Lines Institute concludes that Ethiopian forces committed genocidal acts during the Tigray war, which lasted from 2020-2022. The 120-page draft quotes multiple, widespread and credible independent reports that Ethiopian forces and their allies carried out acts constituting the crime of genocide during the conflict. The authors call for Ethiopia to be brought before the International Court of Justice for prosecution.
The Tigray war erupted in November 2020 when the regional government sought autonomy and the Ethiopian military moved into the northern region of the country. Thousands died in the conflict, which officially ended in November 2022. Both sides accused each other of atrocities, including massacres, rape, and arbitrary detentions. The United Nations had previously reported that war crimes and crimes against humanity were still being committed almost a year after the fighting ended.
The New Lines Institute report states that there is compelling evidence that Ethiopia engaged in actions violating the Genocide Convention, including targeting civilians with mass killings and starvation tactics. The Ethiopian National Defense Force, along with the allied Eritrean Defence Forces and regional militia, are said to have had the intent to destroy Tigrayans as an ethnic group. The report highlights four acts constituting the crime of genocide, including killings, causing bodily or mental harm, deliberately inflicting conditions of life to bring about destruction, and imposing measures to prevent births among Tigrayans.
Despite Ethiopia’s repeated denials of war crimes during the conflict and Eritrea’s claims of defamatory accusations, the new report, compiled over two years with input from legal experts, supports the findings of the UN. It suggests there is a reasonable basis to believe that both countries are responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity. The authors call on the international community to pressure Ethiopia through bilateral relations and bring the country before the ICJ for accountability.
It is crucial for the international community to take action against the atrocities committed during the Tigray war. The report underscores the urgency of holding those responsible for genocide and other crimes accountable for their actions. By prosecuting Ethiopia and its allies at the ICJ, justice can be sought for the victims of the conflict and steps can be taken to prevent such horrific events from happening in the future. It is essential to address the root causes of conflict and ensure that perpetrators are held responsible for their actions.
