UN investigators stated on Monday (Sept. 19) that they believed Ethiopia's government was responsible for ongoing crimes against humanity in Tigray and that resuming hostilities there increased the risk of "further atrocity crimes."
A rebel spokesman said on Monday that Tigrayan authorities "have long maintained" that Addis Abeba is responsible for war crimes and crimes against humanity committed in Tigray.
The experts detailed a long list of atrocities, ranging from extrajudicial killings to intentional hunger and rape and sexual violence on a "staggering scale."
They emphasized, in particular, the situation in Tigray, where the government and its allies have been denied access to basic services, such as the internet and banking, for more than a year.
Due to severe regulations on humanitarian access, 90% of the region's population is in desperate need of assistance.
The commission stated that it had discovered evidence of a wide range of violations committed by all parties in the country since fighting erupted nearly two years ago among forces dedicated to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the TPLF.
They established last year by the UN Human Rights Council and comprised of three independent rights experts, stated that it had "reasonable grounds to believe that, in several instances, these violations amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity."
Since the conflict began in November 2020, thousands have died and many more have been forced from their homes as the conflict spread from Tigray to the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar.
"Immediately restore essential services and ensure full and unfettered humanitarian access," requested Murungi of the administration.
She also encouraged Tigrayan forces to "ensure that humanitarian agencies can operate freely."
A truce in March raised hopes for a peaceful resolution to the war, but those hopes were dashed when fighting resumed last month.
The report, which is scheduled to be presented to the UN Human Rights Council on September 22, made several recommendations, including that all parties to the conflict "immediately cease hostilities and violations... including those that may amount to war crimes or crimes against humanity."
It requests that the UN Human Rights Office conduct "full monitoring" of the situation in Ethiopia and urges the Ethiopian government, its Eritrean ally, and Tigray authorities to investigate and prosecute all perpetrators of abuses.
