Commission Appeals Against Rising Abduction Incidents In Amhara And Oromia

The latest report from the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) calls on officials to avert what it called a disturbing rise in forced disappearances, primarily in the Amhara and Oromia regions.

The report published this week also urges the government to ratify the Convention for the Protection of All Persons from Enforced Disappearance by the United Nations Human Rights Committee. It calls on the government to uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. which it says is being increasingly violated as reports of forced abductions escalate.

The Commission said it has identified 44 cases of forced disappearances, with detentions lasting from one to nine months. The alarming trend involves individuals being taken from their homes by unidentified personnel, often arriving in vehicles without license plates and wearing police uniforms.

The report also pointed out that continuous abductions occur without legal proceedings, leaving families uninformed about the whereabouts and conditions of their loved ones.

EHRC indicated those detained face harsh conditions, including insufficient food and water and restricted contact with their families. This prolonged isolation and mistreatment not only devastate detainees but also inflict psychological trauma on their families.

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In some cases, families have reportedly paid hundreds of thousands of birr to negotiate releases, a practice that reveals the deepening crisis within the nation’s legal and humanitarian framework, the report added.

Rakeb Mesele, acting Human Rights Chief Commissioner, voiced grave concerns about the deteriorating situation, urging immediate governmental intervention. She emphasized the need to protect citizens from wrongful detention and abduction, advocating for accountability and the urgent need to alleviate the socioeconomic and psychological burden placed on affected families.

The EHRC’s report highlights the urgency of resolving these issues, and the Acting Commissioner appealed for decisive government action. The spotlight now falls on Ethiopian authorities to fulfill their human rights obligations, ensuring citizens are safeguarded against further injustices.