Human Rights Body Urges Government to End Unlawful Arrests in Amhara
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has called on the government to immediately halt arbitrary arrests and detentions that violate human rights principles in the Amhara region.
According to the EHRC, widespread arrests have taken place across several parts of the region, including Gondar and Bahir Dar, since mid-September 2024.
Many of those detained include civil servants, members of political parties, media personnel, and members of civil society.
The EHRC expressed concern that these individuals are being held in temporary detention centers without proper legal procedures or court orders.
The Commission also highlighted that many detainees have yet to be brought before a court, as required by law.
Among those arrested, some are in need of continuous medical care, raising further concerns about their well-being during detention.
EHRC emphasized that any form of arrest, regardless of the circumstances, must comply with legal provisions and respect human rights.
The Acting Chief Commissioner of the EHRC, Rakeb Mesele, warned that such arbitrary detentions are causing significant psychological, economic, and social harm to the detainees and their families.
Rakeb further noted that even during times of armed conflict or security disruptions, legal justifications for arrests must be clear, and arrests should only occur with a valid court-issued arrest and search warrant.
She underscored the importance of ensuring that individuals suspected of crimes are detained in lawful facilities and brought before a court within 48 hours, in line with Ethiopia’s legal framework.
The EHRC also announced that it is monitoring the humanitarian impact of bomb explosions in different areas of Bahir Dar, including one at an Adventist school.
The Commission has called on all parties involved in the conflict to refrain from targeting civilians or civilian institutions, and to avoid actions that disrupt the daily lives of the region’s residents.
Seventeen months have passed since the conflict between federal security forces and the Fano militants began in the Amhara region.
Despite efforts, the fighting continues, leading to widespread human rights violations. The EHRC, along with other human rights organizations, has reported extensive property damage, unlawful killings of civilians, and ongoing mass arrests.
Recently, Amnesty International also raised concerns about the situation, particularly the mass detention of teachers and other civilians, urging an end to these arrests.
In response to growing international and domestic criticism, Colonel Getnet Adane, Head of Public Relations for the Ethiopian Defense Forces, stated that the government’s attempts to resolve the conflict through dialogue have failed.
As a result, a new military campaign has been launched against the militants in the region.
