
This piece is written because the Ethiopian government and others went out quickly to dismiss the evidence and the reporting of the Amnesty International Report, which was published in end of February 2021. While now, the same state actors are addressing and not questioning the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRC). This is very ironic and is the reason why I will show the similarities and differences.
Amnesty first reports:
“Between 19 and 29 November 2020, Eritrean troops operating in the Ethiopian city of Axum, Tigray, committed a series of human rights and humanitarian law violations, including killing hundreds of civilians. Over an approximately 24-hour period on 28-29 November, Eritrean soldiers deliberately shot civilians on the street and carried out systematic house-to-house searches, extrajudicially executing men and boys. The massacre was carried out in retaliation for an earlier attack by a small number of local militiamen, joined by local residents armed with sticks and stones” (Amnesty, February 2021).
EHRC states:
“Information collected during this preliminary investigation confirm that during the two days of November 28 and November 29, grave violations of human rights were committed and that in Aksum, over one hundred residents including visitors from other parts of the country who came to mark the annual Aksum Tsion celebration and internally displaced persons from other parts of Tigray, were killed by Eritrean soldiers” (EHRC, March 2021).
Just by these statements alone. We can see that Amnesty International wasn’t wrong or had the wrong witnesses. As the state own authority is saying the same thing. They are claiming the human rights violations by Eritrean soldiers in Axum during November 2020 last year. These two things are showing the ones speaking ill of Amnesty should reconsider stance. Especially, if they are accepting the Preliminary Report of EHRC.
About the November 28th November Amnesty wrote this:
“From about 3 to 4 pm, lines of Eritrean trucks and tanks reportedly entered the city from the east. Their numbers bolstered by the new arrivals, Eritrean soldiers went on a rampage, shooting at civilian men and youths who were out on the streets attempting to flee in panic. The killing, which one witness said began around 4 pm, was carried out on a large scale and continued until the evening” (Amnesty, February 2021).
EHRC report says this:
“On November 25, members of ENDF were seen to be leaving Aksum and on November 26, residents said they could not see any “soldiers moving around the city”. On November 27, however, “a large number of Eritrean soldiers began coming into Aksum”. “They took up posts in three different locations of the city: ‘Maye Kuho’; ‘Samuna Fabrika’ and ‘Tsele’a’. On November 28, 2020, we started hearing heavy gun fire all around the city.”” (EHRC, March 2021).
Here we see again that the reports are saying similar things. The stories are fitting together. So, the ones who dismissed the Amnesty report was insincere. As both the EHRC and Amnesty is saying the same thing went down.
We know the EHRC is working in favour of the state. The EHRC will downplay and also undermine the total damage done by the state authorities and its allies. However, the Amnesty has its interests too. Still, it is interesting how similar the stories are and how they can co-exist together.
When you read the two reports. The stories could be mended together and explain further what happened. Both reports are blaming Eritrean forces in Axum and they were using vile force on civilians. Therefore, they are the ones responsible for the massacre occurring there in November 2020.
The ones that went after Amnesty and called it “fake news”. Have to go out and held accountable. As the state authority EHRC is validating the same things. They are both claiming the same things and showing similar results. When that is happening. The Amnesty clearly didn’t make things up, but reported factual evidence on the ground. EHRC is doing the same, but are not as direct as Amnesty. As Amnesty is there to defend civilians and their rights. While the EHRC is there to do its duty and mandate in concern with orders of Addis Ababa. This is why the EHRC report isn’t as horrific and straightforward in comparison to Amnesty. However, that is because of their role and their mandate is vastly different.
We can clearly see that the massacre went down. That innocent lives was taken. The Eritrean forces violated the rules of war. The accounts mentioned in the reports is devastating and shows a sinister side. The war in Tigray is clearly more bloody than the authorities and the state wants out. They are clearly aiming at civilians and destroying society. That is the clear message in the reports and reflects the actions made by the ones in-charge of Law Enforcement Operation. They have to be held to account and answer for the injustice served in Tigray. Not only what happened on those days in Axum, but all across the State of Tigray. Peace.












