May 12, 2024
HE Mr. António Guterres,
Secretary-General of the United Nations,
The United Nations
UN Office on Genocide Prevention and the Responsibility to Protect
HE Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat,
Chairperson, African Union Commission
HE Mr. Antony J. Blinken,
Secretary of State
US Department of State
HE Ms. Ursula von der Leyen
President, European Commission
Dear Esteemed Members of the United Nations and the International Community,
We, the undersigned organizations, write to you today with a heavy heart and a profound sense of urgency regarding the dire situation unfolding in Ethiopia. Recent events, including alarming speeches and actions by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of Ethiopia, have exacerbated ethnic tensions to a point where the threat of genocide looms ominously over the Ethiopian people, particularly the ethnic Amhara community.
Ethiopia, traditionally the anchor of stability in the Horn of Africa, is fast transitioning from a fragile state to a failed state over the past three years. Civil wars rage in all its regional states (especially in Amhara, Oromia, Beni-Shangul-Gumuz, and Gambella). It is widely estimated that over one million have been killed, five million internally displaced, and 28 million on the verge of famine. The Prime Minister, who has suspended development spending to finance the federal security forces and vanity projects, including his $15 billion palace, has now renounced his claim of representing all Ethiopians to pander to the worst form of ethnic hatemongering.
As translated by OLF-OLA, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently visited the heartland of the massacre and displacement of the Amhara, to offer these chilling remarks in Nekemte (Wollega):
“How did those who are immoral subjugate us for the past 100 years?” and added, “The enemy now knows what the Oromo government can do.”
The immoral and the enemy are presumably the Amhara, who are presently the object of collective punishment throughout Ethiopia.
The Prime Minster responded to the resistance against ethnocentric forces in the Amhara Regional State with these warmongering words: “For the Oromo to engage in discussion with the enemy is gross humiliation. Thus, Oromo must unite and fight its enemy.”
Thus, it is with deep concern that we bring to your attention the following points:
1.Genocide-Inciting Speeches of the Prime Minister: Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Oromia Region’s President Shimelis Abdisa have repeatedly made speeches that not only condone but actively incite violence and genocide against ethnic Amharas throughout Ethiopia, including Addis Ababa. Such rhetoric is not only dangerous but also in direct violation of international laws and norms. As noted above,
Prime Minister Abiy spoke at Wollega, part of Oromia where thousands of ethnic
Amhara were heinously massacred by Ethnic Oromo militia called OLF-Shene and state actors. His recent speech was a blatant call for genocide against Amharas, whom the Prime Minister labeled as enemies of the Oromo. Such rhetoric, as we had witnessed in Rwanda and former Yugoslavia, is not only dangerous but also in direct violation of international laws and norms.
2.Loss of Life: The consequences of Prime Minister Abiy’s actions have been devastating, with close to one million people losing their lives as a result of war and ethnic conflicts instigated under his leadership. The loss of innocent lives, including indiscriminate bombing by drones, on such a massive scale is unacceptable and demands immediate action.
3.Genocide and Ethnic Cleansing: Reports of genocide and ethnic cleansing targeting the Amhara community in the Oromia region, particularly in Wollega, by state actors and OLF/Shene are deeply troubling. The deliberate targeting of individuals based on their ethnicity is a grave violation of human rights and must be condemned in the strongest possible terms. The perpetrators must be held accountable for the crimes they committed.
4.Humanitarian Crisis: Millions of individuals, particularly from the Amhara community, have been internally displaced and are living in deplorable conditions in makeshift shelters in the Amhara Region. Tens of thousands of Amhara residents of Addis Ababa have been taken to concentration camps to preempt rebellion. This humanitarian crisis is exacerbating an already fragile situation and requires urgent attention and intervention.
5.International Inaction: Despite these flagrant violations of human rights, ethnic cleansing, atrocities, displacement, and the escalating risk of genocide on the Amhara community, the international community has thus far failed to intervene effectively. This inaction not only emboldens perpetrators but also sends a dangerous message that such atrocities will be tolerated.
The United Nations and the international community must take immediate and decisive action to address the crisis in Ethiopia. Specifically, we urge you to:
- Condemn in the strongest possible terms the genocide-inciting speeches and actions of Prime Minister Abiy and his cronies and hold them accountable.
- Honor your responsibility to protect Amharas who are at risk of genocidal violence.
- Impose an arms embargo on Ethiopia and condemn the indiscriminate drone strikes on the Amhara community to protect civilians and prevent further bloodshed.
- .Provide impartial humanitarian assistance and support to those affected by the conflict, particularly the internally displaced Amharas living in dire conditions.
The situation in Ethiopia demands urgent attention and decisive action. Failure to act now could result in a humanitarian disaster of catastrophic proportions, reminiscent of past genocides in Rwanda and elsewhere. We cannot allow history to repeat itself.
We implore you to act swiftly and decisively to prevent further loss of life and to uphold the principles of peace, justice, and human dignity upon which the United Nations was founded.
Sincerely,
LIST OF SIGNATORY ORGANIZATIONS:
- Abba Bahrey Forum
- Adwa Great African Victory Association (AGAVA)
- All Shewa Ethiopian People Multipurpose International Association
- American Ethiopian Public Affairs Committee
- Amhara Association of Austin, Texas
- Amhara Dimtse Serechit
- Bete Amhara Wollo Association
- Association of Concerned Ethio-Americans and Ethiopians in the Diaspora
- Communities of Ethiopians in Finland
- .Concerned Amharas in the Diaspora
- DC Joint Task Force ( የዲሲ የጋራ ግብረኃይል)
- Embilta Forum
- Ethiopian American Civic Council ( EACC)
- Ethio-Canadian Human Rights Association
- .Ethiopian Community Association of Greater Cincinnati (ECAGC)
- Federation of Amhara Associations in Europe (በአውሮጳ የአማራ ምህበራት ፌዴሬሺን)
- Freedom and Justice for Telemet Amhara Committee
- Foundation for Human Rights and Development in Ethiopia (FHRDE)
- Gasha Amhara organization
- Global Alliance for Justice – The Ethiopian Cause
- Global Amhara Coalition (ዓለም አቀፍ የአማራ ህብረት)
- Global Ethiopian Scholars Initiative (GESI)
- Gojjam Global Alliance
- Gonder Hibret for Ethiopian Unity
- Hibre Hizb
- Hope For Ethiopia (HOPE)
- Joint Council of Amhara Struggle (የአማራ ትግል የጋራ ምክር ቤት)
- Major Lemma Woldetsadik Memorial Foundation
- Moresh Wegeine Amara Organization
- Network of Ethiopian Scholars (NES)
- Radio Yenesew Ethiopia
- Reyote Amhara Z-Ethiopia
- Selassie Stand Up, Inc.
- The Ethiopian Broadcast Group
- Vision Ethiopia (VE)
- Voice of the Victims Organization ( ልሳነ ግፉዓን)
- Welkait, Tegede, Telemet, Setit Humera Global Amhara Unity Association
