Government Should Address Killings in Somali and Oromia Regions
Director, East Africa and the Horn
Ethiopia’s new Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has electrified his country with a since he took office in April, including the release of hundreds of political prisoners. But recent incidents of ethnically and religiously-charged killings in Ethiopia’s Somali and Oromia regions point to ongoing tensions in the country. Much more government attention to these killings, including investigations and justice, is critical to ensuring all citizens can benefit from .
Ethiopian authorities established the Liyu police in 2007 to combat the insurgent Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF); the paramilitary force has frequently been implicated in , torture, and rape. In response to Abiy’s reforms, some members of the on August 12.The government has yet to announce concrete plans for substantially reforming or eventually disbanding the Liyu police, despite their involvement in cross-regional attacks. For example, and injured 20, in Oromia’s Eastern Harerege a few days ago.
At least 15 people in other parts of the country – , – were also killed in ethnically-charged mob justice and rioting in August.
The political and ethnic dynamics around these recent killings show that despite reforms and improved rhetoric on human rights from the federal government, insecurity is still a problem – particularly where Liyu police roam unchecked. Bringing perpetrators swiftly to justice is the only way to not only stem the violence, but also signal to Ethiopians that the country is changing for good.