Human Rights Watch (HRW) has warned of renewed threats to civilians following fresh clashes between Ethiopian government forces and fighters aligned with the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in northern Ethiopia.
The rights organisation said the latest hostilities broke out on Tuesday across the Tigray, Amhara and Afar regions, following weeks of reported clashes and airstrikes in Tigray.
According to HRW, the violence has also affected Mekelle, the Tigray regional capital, where fighting and airstrikes have reportedly occurred since August.
Laetitia Bader, HRW’s deputy Africa director, said the renewed hostilities had heightened concerns that civilians could be subjected to further abuses, given the history of atrocities committed by parties to the conflict.
“The new hostilities in northern Ethiopia raise fears that civilians will face further abuses given the warring parties’ past atrocities and ongoing impunity,” Bader said.
She called on the parties to the conflict to take necessary steps to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure, while urging international actors to act swiftly to safeguard civilians and strengthen monitoring of the conduct of the warring parties.