Ethiopia’s government condemns probe into Tigray human rights abuses

By : NAN

Date: 17 June 2021 4:19pm WAT

(FILES) In this file photo taken on January 12, 2020 Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed Ali (L) speaks during a press conference with South African President at the Union Buildings in Pretoria, following their meeting on matters of mutual national development, regional and continental issues as well as international developments. - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said on March 23, 2021 his country did not want war with Sudan, as tensions over a contested region along their border spark fears of broader conflict. (Photo by Phill Magakoe / AFP)

FILE PHOTO: Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed poses for a photograph during the opening of the 33rd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Heads of State and the Government of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, February 9, 2020. REUTERS/Tiksa Negeri/File Photo

An African Union (AU) investigation into possible human rights abuses in Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region was met with condemnation by the government in Addis Ababa on Thursday.

The investigation, which was a “unilateral” announcement by the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights, is “unhelpful” and has no legal basis, according to Ethiopia’s Foreign Ministry.

The inquiry should be halted immediately, it added in the statement.
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Ethiopia’s government forces have been repeatedly accused of using violence and rape against the population in Tigray, which prompted the AU to announce that investigations into the allegations would be undertaken by a commission of inquiry.

Ethiopia launched a military offensive on its northern region of Tigray in November to diminish the power of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which rules the region and has been critical of the central government.