In the State Department’s annual report on global human rights, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken announced that the US has officially determined that “war crimes” were committed during the two-year conflict in northern Ethiopia.
He said “after careful examination of the law and facts by the Ministry, we determined that the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, Eritrean Defense Forces, Tigray People’s Liberation Front forces and Amhara forces committed war crimes during the conflict in northern Ethiopia.”
“Members of the ENDF, EDF, and Amhara forces also committed crimes against humanity, including murder, rape, and other forms of sexual violence, and persecution,” Blinken added.
Secretary Blinken also stated that members of Amhara forces committed crimes against humanity in western Tigray, including deportation or forcible transfer and ethnic cleansing.
Western Tigray is currently under the control of Amhara forces.
Blinken said the US urges parties to the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement to implement “a credible, inclusive, and comprehensive transitional justice process.”
He also urged the Eritrean government to hold members of the Eritrean Defense Forces accountable for crimes committed in Ethiopia.
“The United States will partner with Ethiopia as it implements a credible transitional justice process for the benefit of all victims and affected communities,” Secretary Blinken said.