Ethiopia’s Amhara region suffers from government-led violence, systematic killings, and lack of international intervention, raising serious human rights concerns. Notable assassinations of professionals exemplify the broader campaign against the Amhara people. The international community’s hypocrisy, particularly Western powers, highlights a disturbing disregard for human rights when geopolitical interests are at stake. A call to action is necessary to address the genocide and hold accountable those responsible.
Ethiopia, a country renowned for its resilience, is currently undergoing a grievous period as its government engages in an undeclared war against the Amhara population. Systemic killings, extrajudicial executions, and widespread atrocities have transformed the Amhara region into a zone of conflict. Alarmingly, global responses have been largely muted, especially from Western countries that profess to support human rights and democracy but remain silent amidst this humanitarian crisis.
The unjust murder of Dr. Andualem Dagne, a respected surgeon in Bahir Dar, exemplifies the violence inflicted upon Amhara citizens. His assassination, reportedly by government forces, reflects a distressing pattern of targeted killings against professionals and community leaders. This trend reveals a chilling disregard for life, wherein merely being Amhara can make one a target, as accusations of supporting the Amhara self-defense group, Fano, are often unfounded.
Evidence of this violence extends beyond targeted killings, as witnessed in the Merawi Massacre, where federal forces brutally executed civilians in their own homes. With estimates from the Ethiopian Human Rights Council indicating over eighty civilian deaths during this horrific event, the absence of an international investigation raises grave concerns about accountability for such atrocities. Reports from the Amhara Association of America indicate a troubling pattern of mass executions since the state of emergency was declared in August 2023.
Western nations, including the United States and European Union, have positioned themselves as champions of human rights. However, their inaction regarding the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Ethiopia starkly contradicts this claim. Although U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, expressed concern about the Merawi Massacre, he refrained from advocating for tangible actions. Similarly, institutions such as the United Nations and the African Union have exhibited significant silence on the plight of the Amhara people, undermining their relevance in the sphere of human rights advocacy.
The silence from the West is largely attributed to geopolitical interests overshadowing humanitarian concerns, as Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government remains a strategic ally. Financial aid and diplomatic support continue despite ongoing human rights violations, suggesting an alarming prioritization of political interests over the lives of Amharas.
Furthermore, social media platforms, notably Facebook, have exacerbated tensions by enabling the dissemination of hate speech against Amharas. A lawsuit against Meta highlighted the platform’s failure to curtail derogatory language that incited violence, including the tragic murder of Professor Meareg Amare, thus demonstrating a troubling neglect for human safety in favor of profit.
It is imperative that the international community confronts the growing genocide in Ethiopia. Actionable steps include recognizing the systematic extermination of Amharas as genocide, imposing sanctions on responsible officials, conducting independent investigations into these atrocities, holding Western governments accountable for their silence, and urging social media platforms to curb ethnic violence. The ongoing bloodshed transcends Ethiopian borders and poses a moral challenge to global humanity. Collective action is essential; failure to address this while innocent lives are lost will signify a profound moral failure.
In conclusion, the situation in Ethiopia presents a severe humanitarian crisis, particularly affecting the Amhara community through violence, targeted killings, and systemic oppression. Despite the evident atrocities, international silence, particularly from Western powers that claim to advocate for human rights, raises critical ethical questions. The call for global action is urgent; the world must confront this genocide and hold accountable those perpetrating these crimes while working towards justice for the Amhara people.
Original Source: borkena.com
