Human Rights Atrocities¶

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Section: The Tigray War (2020-2022) | Previous: Conflict Overview | Next: Humanitarian Crisis

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This section contains detailed documentation of war crimes, mass killings, sexual violence, and other serious human rights violations. Reader discretion is advised. Content is based on verified international investigations and survivor testimonies.

The Tigray War was characterized by widespread and systematic violations of international humanitarian law and human rights. All parties to the conflict committed serious violations, but the scale and systematic nature of crimes against Tigrayan civilians by coalition forces have led to allegations of ethnic cleansing and genocide.

Mass Killings and Extrajudicial Executions¶

Documented Massacre Sites¶

Axum Massacre (November 28-29, 2020)¶

Location: Historic city of Axum, religious center of Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity
Perpetrators: Primarily Eritrean forces
Casualties: Estimated 700+ civilians killed
Documentation: Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch investigations
Method: Door-to-door killings, targeting of religious celebrations

Survivor Testimony

"They were killing people like chickens. They would just shoot them in the head and move on to the next house." - Axum survivor, Human Rights Watch interview

Mai Kadra Massacre (November 9-10, 2020)¶

Location: Agricultural town in western Tigray
Perpetrators: Local forces and militias (disputed attribution)
Casualties: Estimated 600+ civilians killed
Characteristics: Ethnic targeting of non-Tigrayan residents
Investigation: Ethiopian Human Rights Commission findings

Other Major Massacre Sites¶

Mahbere Dego: Mass killings in church compound
Humera: Systematic targeting of Tigrayan civilians
Dengelat: Village-level massacres
Edaga Hamus: Market day killings

Patterns of Violence¶

Systematic Targeting¶

Ethnic Profiling: Targeting based on Tigrayan identity
Age and Gender: Women, children, and elderly not spared
Religious Targeting: Attacks during religious festivals and ceremonies
Geographic Spread: Massacres in both urban and rural areas

Methods of Killing¶

Small Arms Fire: Most common method
Bladed Weapons: Machetes, knives, axes
Mass Executions: Group killings in public spaces
Deliberate Targeting: House-to-house searches and killings

Sexual and Gender-Based Violence¶

Scale and Systematic Nature¶

Statistics and Scope¶

Prevalence: Approximately 1 in 10 women in Tigray subjected to sexual violence
Geographic Spread: All zones of Tigray affected
Perpetrators: All conflict parties, primarily Ethiopian and Eritrean forces
Duration: Throughout the 24-month conflict period

Forms of Sexual Violence¶

Rape: Individual and gang rape
Sexual Slavery: Prolonged captivity for sexual exploitation
Forced Marriage: Coerced unions with soldiers
Sexual Mutilation: Insertion of foreign objects into reproductive organs
Forced Nudity: Public humiliation and degradation

Weapons of War Characteristics¶

Intent to Destroy¶

Fertility Targeting: Deliberate damage to reproductive organs
Ethnic Intent: Expressed goals to "eliminate Tigrayan bloodline"
Community Destruction: Targeting women as pillars of community
Psychological Warfare: Terrorizing entire populations

Medical Documentation¶

Physicians for Human Rights Report: "'You Will Never Be Able to Give Birth'"
Specific Injuries: Nails, screws, stones inserted into victims
Long-term Health Impact: Permanent reproductive damage
Mental Health Consequences: Severe psychological trauma

Legal Classification

The UN Commission of Human Rights Experts concluded that sexual violence in Tigray was used as a weapon of war and constitutes crimes against humanity.

Forced Displacement and Ethnic Cleansing¶

Western Tigray Annexation¶

Territorial Control¶

Area: Historically Tigrayan territories (Welkait-Tsegede areas)
Population: Hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans displaced
Control: Transferred to Amhara regional control
Status: Ongoing occupation as of 2024

Displacement Patterns¶

Forced Removal: Systematic expulsion of Tigrayan residents
Property Seizure: Homes, businesses, and farms confiscated
Identity Documents: Destruction of Tigrayan identification
Settlement Patterns: Non-Tigrayan populations moved into abandoned areas

Internal Displacement¶

Scale of Displacement¶

Total Displaced: Over 2.5 million people internally displaced
Peak Period: Late 2020 through 2021
Duration: Many remain displaced as of 2024
Conditions: Inadequate shelter, food, and basic services

Displacement Causes¶

Direct Violence: Fleeing massacres and targeted killings
Indirect Coercion: Threats, intimidation, impossible living conditions
Economic Destruction: Livelihood destruction forcing movement
Service Denial: Cutting of basic services making areas uninhabitable

Cultural and Religious Targeting¶

Destruction of Heritage Sites¶

Ancient Monasteries and Churches¶

Debre Damo Monastery: 6^th-century monastery shelled
Church Looting: Systematic theft of ancient manuscripts and artifacts
Rock-hewn Churches: Multiple sites damaged or looted
Religious Art: Priceless frescoes and religious objects destroyed

Islamic Heritage¶

Al-Nejashi Mosque: Historic mosque damaged and looted
Muslim Communities: Targeting of Tigrayan Muslims
Religious Coexistence: Destruction of symbols of interfaith harmony

Cultural Genocide Elements¶

Language Suppression: Attacks on Tigrinya language use
Educational Destruction: Schools systematically destroyed
Cultural Artifacts: Looting and destruction of cultural objects
Historical Erasure: Deliberate targeting of identity markers

Starvation as a Weapon of War¶

Deliberate Denial of Food¶

Agricultural Destruction¶

Farmland Destruction: Crops burned, fields contaminated
Livestock Killing: Mass slaughter of cattle and other animals
Seed Destruction: Targeting of next season's planting capacity
Market Disruption: Systematic destruction of local markets

Aid Blockade¶

Access Restrictions: Preventing humanitarian aid delivery
Checkpoint Harassment: Systematic delays and confiscation
Aid Worker Targeting: Attacks on humanitarian personnel
Banking Blockade: Prevention of cash transfers for aid

UN Classification

UN investigators concluded that the use of starvation as a weapon of war in Tigray constitutes a war crime.

Documentation and Evidence¶

International Investigations¶

UN Commission of Human Rights Experts¶

Mandate: Investigate violations in northern Ethiopia
Findings: Crimes against humanity and war crimes by all parties
Methodology: Interviews, satellite imagery, documentary evidence
Recommendations: Accountability and justice mechanisms

Human Rights Organizations¶

Amnesty International: Multiple detailed reports on massacres
Human Rights Watch: Comprehensive documentation of violations
Physicians for Human Rights: Medical-legal evidence of sexual violence
Ethiopian Human Rights Commission: Joint investigations with UN

Evidence Preservation¶

Satellite Imagery: Documentation of destruction and mass graves
Survivor Testimonies: Thousands of witness accounts collected
Medical Records: Clinical evidence of sexual violence and injuries
Digital Evidence: Communications, photos, and video documentation

Accountability and Justice¶

International Legal Frameworks¶

Rome Statute Crimes¶

Crimes Against Humanity: Murder, rape, deportation, persecution
War Crimes: Attacks on civilians, cultural property destruction
Genocide: Allegations of intent to destroy ethnic group
Individual Responsibility: Command and superior responsibility

Universal Jurisdiction¶

European Investigations: Several European countries opening cases
US Sanctions: Individual sanctions on key perpetrators
Travel Bans: International travel restrictions imposed
Asset Freezes: Financial sanctions on responsible parties

Transitional Justice Mechanisms¶

Pretoria Agreement Provisions¶

Transitional Justice Policy: Agreement to establish mechanisms
Truth-Telling: Processes for revealing what happened
Reparations: Compensation for victims
Institutional Reform: Preventing recurrence

Challenges to Justice¶

Eritrean Participation: Eritrea not party to peace agreement
Political Will: Questions about genuine commitment to accountability
Victim Participation: Ensuring meaningful involvement of survivors
International Support: Need for sustained international engagement

Impact on Survivors and Communities¶

Trauma and Mental Health¶

PTSD Prevalence: Widespread post-traumatic stress disorder
Community Trauma: Collective psychological impact
Intergenerational Effects: Impact on children and future generations
Cultural Trauma: Loss of identity and heritage

Trust Building: Rebuilding social cohesion
Reconciliation: Addressing inter-community tensions
Women's Participation: Including survivors in reconstruction
Youth Integration: Addressing lost educational opportunities

International Legal Standards

The documented violations in Tigray meet the legal definitions under:

Geneva Conventions: War crimes and grave breaches
Rome Statute: Crimes against humanity and genocide
CEDAW: Systematic discrimination against women
Convention on Genocide: Intent to destroy ethnic group

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