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The investigation into the atrocities committed in Tigray has barely been initiated by the African Commission on Human and Human Rights and has already been rejected by Addis Ababa.
as reported from Nairobi, Sebastien nemeth
In northern Ethiopia, Tigray has been in conflict since November between federal and regional powers. The violence has left thousands dead and mass crimes have been condemned.
ACHPR therefore set up a team to investigate. Its work officially began on Thursday, June 17, but Ethiopia has said it will not cooperate. On the contrary, she called for “the immediate end” of the work of the five investigators. Addis Ababa criticizes the Commission on Human Rights for forming the team “unilaterally”.
Yesterday, when the investigations had officially begun for a period of three months, the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered that they finally had no legal basis and did not respect the framework negotiated. Addis Ababa disputes in particular the fact that the Commission is not joint and therefore does not include representatives of the Ethiopian authorities.
Investigators resist
But the department seems to be resisting the pressure at the moment. Commissioner Maya Sahli-Fadel, also a member of the team, said a joint inquiry with the government “could change the independence” of her work.
The team leader added that the investigation would go ahead. “What we have started cannot be stopped,” said Congolese Rémy Ngoy Lumbu. He said Addis Ababa had given them permission to go to Tigray, although no date has been set yet. “What we find will not end up hidden in a box,” promised Remy Ngoy Lumbu.
And as if to anticipate a deportation, the group declared that if it could not come to Tigray, it could visit neighboring countries and talk to the thousands of refugees who fled Ethiopia.
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