A joint task force composed of Ethiopia’s federal army and Amhara regional security authorities must end the month-long arbitrary mass detention of thousands in the Amhara region, Amnesty International said today. Amnesty International research has found that since 28 September 2024 the task force has filled four makeshift detention camps across the Amhara region with thousands of civilians. “This dangerous trend further undermines efforts to monitor the toll of conflict on civilians in Amhara region, instilling fear in anyone who dares to uphold the law. BackgroundAn armed conflict between the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and Fano militia broke out in August 2023 in the Amhara region. A joint press conference by the ENDF and the Amhara regional government on 1 October referred to the mass detention campaign as “law enforcement, to stabilize the Amhara region and ensure peace.”Judges in the Amhara region do not have immunity from liability related to their judicial conduct.

Source: Ethiopian News November 06, 2024 23:27 UTC