Witnesses in Ethiopia have reported that more than 200 people, mostly ethnic Amhara, have been killed and many others wounded in a deadly attack in the Oromia region. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and others have attributed the violence to Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Incidents such as these have occurred in other regions, leading the UN to report that the war is marred by “extreme brutality.” The American Friends Service Committee (AFSC) strongly condemns this heinous attack and is deeply concerned about the ongoing loss of life.
Hundreds of people have lost their lives and various forms of atrocities have been committed in Ethiopia in recent months due to ethnic violence. This comes at a particularly perilous time. We are very concerned as Ethiopia, like the rest of the Horn of Africa, is impacted by famine. The combination of human induced violence and drought is catastrophic for the people. Humanitarian agencies cannot access the war-torn regions to provide necessary services. Thousands of people lack food, medicine, and other essential services.
We are hopeful about the recent announcement by the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) that they are willing to negotiate peace. But we remain concerned about the constant violence against civilians and reports of human rights abuses. We call for a sustained ceasefire between all concerned parties. We hope that the Ethiopian government protects the rights of all people in the country.
We also urge the African Union, United States, and European Union to support and facilitate an inclusive dialogue and reconciliation process in Ethiopia involving all parties and hold accountable outside actors who support the war in Ethiopia by providing military or financial resources to the warring parties.
As a Quaker peacebuilding organization, we have seen over our century of work that much can be accomplished when we turn away from violence and move towards cooperation. Everyone deserves to live in safety and peace. All parties must respect and protect the rights and lives of all Ethiopians.