“Following allegations of ongoing human rights violations in the Amhara region, the Ethiopian government must provide unhindered access to the Independent Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE) and other independent investigative bodies, alongside independent media, to thoroughly examine these allegations,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa. The state of emergency puts Amhara Region under a command post, led by the country’s intelligence chief, and reporting to the Prime Minister. The government blocked internet access in the Amhara region since 3 August 2023, infringing on the public’s right to freedom of expression and access to information. In April 2022, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch reported how Amhara regional officials, Amhara Special Forces and Fano militia, with federal forces’ complicity, were responsible for the ethnic cleansing of Tigrayans from Western Tigray. From early August 2023, Fano captured major cities across the Amhara region, including the historic Gondar city and Debre Birhan – which is only 135 km from Addis Ababa.

Source: Ethiopian News August 18, 2023 20:56 UTC