Recent violence in Ethiopia’s Oromia region shows hallmark signs of ethnic cleansing, says MRG
eports to MRG as well as media coverage show that following the tragic murder of Hachalu Hundessa, a renowned Oromo singer and activist, an organised and large group of predominantly young people from the Oromo community killed members of ethnic minorities in the region and burned down hotels, schools, business centres and residential homes belonging to ethnic Amharas and Gurage people, though the properties of Christian Oromos were also damaged.
The extremely disturbing tactics that were used in these attacks and that indicate signs of ethnic cleansing include:
1-The attacks were premeditated
Attackers carried a list with the names of individuals and households to target. The group were going home-to-home checking identity cards, specifically targeting Amhara and Gurages (who make up an estimated 3 per cent of the population). Accounts indicate that many of the attackers were not from the areas, suggesting that transportation had been arranged to go from town to town.
2- Federal and local government officials turned a blind eye
In many areas of Oromia region, the federal and regional government were not willing to deploy security forces in time to protect minorities. In one case in Dera town, a father was murdered in front of his son, who himself sustained serious injury in the attack. Moments before his father’s death, his son called law enforcement personnel for support, but they responded by saying they were not authorised to intervene. Instead, reports indicate that when victims tried to defend themselves, Oromia region Special Forces attacked them.
2- Media outlets allowed hate speech and incitement of violence to air
Media outlets were actively propagating the attacks live and giving guidance to the attackers. Oromo Media Network (OMN) operating from Minnesota, USA, broadcasted a series of inflammatory hate-filled messages, including calls to lock and burn the homes of Amhara people.
The hate-driven nature of the killings and violence
The murders of ethnic Amharas and Gurages were celebrated by attackers, with reports indicating that victims’ bodies were displayed in the streets.
Now that Ethiopia’s internet blackout has ended, MRG will continue to investigate and research the situation.
https://minorityrights.org/2020/07/22/e ... ng-oromia/
