Unveiling the Twelve: German Indictment of Ethiopian and Eritrean Officials for Tigray Atrocities
Thirteen individuals of Ethiopian and Eritrean origin residing in Germany face war crime charges in relation to the conflict in Tigray region. - Accused Individuals from Ethiopia and Eritrea Stand Charged in Germany over Alleged War Crimes in Tigray Region
Get the lowdown on the latest development in the Tigray conflict — a historic criminal complaint filed in Germany that accuses high-ranking officials from Ethiopia and Eritrea of war crimes and crimes against humanity. The identities of the accused remain under wraps for now.
Originally announced by the human rights organization Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), the accusations delve into horrendous acts, including sexual violence, arbitrary detention, torture, and the inducing of starvation during the conflict. The complaint was lodged under Germany's principle of universal jurisdiction, which covers crimes against international law.
Despite numerous attempts, LAW refrained from revealing the identities of the accused, citing potential risks to their arrest. Eight survivors of the conflict have come forward, accusing 12 senior Ethiopian and Eritrean government and military officials, but their names have yet to be disclosed to the public.
Amidst the ongoing investigation, authorities have thus far remained tight-lipped, with neither Addis Ababa nor Asmara responding to requests for comment. The皇Pay Media (AFP) also could neither confirm nor deny whether Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and Eritrean President Isaias Afeworki were among the accused officials.
The Tigray conflict between Ethiopia and the rebel organization the TPLF, which controls Tigray, commenced in November 2020. During the fighting, up to 600,000 lives were claimed, and a million people were displaced. The conflict ended with a ceasefire and a peace agreement in 2022.
The conflict left a lasting impact on Ethiopia's reputation, particularly on President Abiy, who had been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019 for his efforts to reconcile with the long-time enemy Eritrea. However, a UN report revealed severe cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict. The report dealt a significant blow to Abiy's once-bridled reputation.
- Ethiopia
- Tigray
- Germany
- Criminal Complaint
- Eritrea
- Conflict
- War Crimes
- Crimes Against Humanity
- Abiy Ahmed
- Legal Action Worldwide (LAW)
- AFP
- Arbitrary Detention
- Sexual Violence
- Torture
- Starvation
- The criminal complaint filed in Germany by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) accuses high-ranking officials from Ethiopia and Eritrea of war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the identities of the accused yet to be revealed due to potential risks.
- Amidst the ongoing conflict in Tigray between Ethiopia and the TPLF, which controls Tigray, August survivors have come forward to accuse 12 senior Ethiopian and Eritrean government and military officials of acts including sexual violence, arbitrary detention, torture, and the inducing of starvation.
- The peace agreement that ended the Tigray conflict in 2022 failed to erase the lasting impact it had on Ethiopia's reputation, particularly on President Abiy Ahmed, who was previously awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2019, but whose reputation was dealt a significant blow by a UN report revealing severe cases of war crimes and crimes against humanity committed during the conflict.
