Biden ‘gravely concerned’ by reports of TPLF atrocities in northern Ethiopia

ADDIS ABABA – The United States government has said that it is gravely concerned by reports of atrocities committed by the rebellious Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Ethiopia’s northern Amhara region when it captured the area between August and early September.

Last week, Amnesty International reported that Tigrayan fighters killed scores of Ethiopian civilians in northern Amhara region, looted property, and gang-raped women and girls as young as 14.

The rights advocacy said the rebel forces committed the atrocities around Chenna and Kobo last August and September after taking control of the areas.

In a statement, the United States state department said it is gravely concerned by the reports of human rights abuse and reiterated its calls for all armed actors in the country to renounce violence against civilians.

“The United States is gravely concerned by the reports of atrocities, including sexual violence, committed by fighters affiliated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the Amhara region of Ethiopia in late August and early September 2021, as described in a recent Amnesty International report,” the embassy said in the statement.

“We call on all armed actors to renounce and end all human rights abuses and violence against civilians. It remains our firm position that there must be credible investigations into and accountability for atrocities as part of any lasting solution to the crisis,” the statement added.

The statement further said “Continued reports of atrocities underscore the urgency of ending the ongoing military conflict. We continue to engage parties to the conflict to urge a halt to the violence, an end to atrocities, the unhindered provision of life-saving humanitarian assistance, and a peaceful resolution to the conflict.”