In November 2020 snippets of information emerged from Ethiopia about a government offensive launched by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces against the special forces of the Tigray regional government in the country’s north. Reports of atrocities came fast and furious.
We now have an idea of just how precarious the situation currently is on the ground. A video began circulating May 8 on social media presenting remarks made by the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church Patriarch Abune Mathias stating that he believes that the situation in Tigray is in fact genocide.
“They want to destroy the People of Tigray,” the Patriarch states in the video.
There is a backstory to the video’s release. Although addressed to the people of Ethiopia, it had been smuggled from the country via cellphone by an American aid worker. Speaking to Reuters, Dennis Wadley, who heads the charity Bridge of Hope International and who recorded the speech, said that the Patriarch “wanted the world to know the truth about what was going on in Tigray.”
The video contradicts the official position of the Government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed that conflict in the Tigray region has concluded. Several aid agencies continue to report that access to the region is difficult under the best of circumstances. Prime Minister Abiy has stated that all reports of atrocities will be investigated. Some of the alleged atrocities include rape and the destruction of churches by pro-government forces. An official church letter addressed to the Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in April alleged that 78 priests have been killed during the conflict.
The Biden Administration has not been silent regarding the crisis. A statement released on February 27 highlights not only the reports of atrocities that were gradually making their way into the news cycle, but also concerns around the overall situation in the region. Secretary of State Antony Blinken telephoned the Ethiopian Prime Minister on April 26 to reiterate U.S. concerns as the situation deteriorates across the region.
Both the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and the United Nations Office for the High Commissioner for Human Rights have investigations underway to document the human rights abuses. Blinken stressed the need for justice and accountability measures to hold those responsible to be held accountable for their actions. The role of forces from neighboring Eritrea in this crisis has to be held into account as well. The U.S. Administration has called for Eritrean forces to withdraw from the region.
Genocide has a specific meaning with criteria that must be met. It is a term not to be used lightly but often is deployed to garner interest in crises overlooked by analysts.
The lack of responses by both the Ethiopian government and the Office of the Patriarch suggests that this was not a planned statement. That the Patriarch himself is of Tigray descent could be a reason of concern. Could he have placed himself in danger by releasing this video? Clearly, he feels that the situation is being ignored. He is using his position as a church official to break the silence about some of the atrocities that have been committed.
This is a situation that cannot be ignored. The U.S. has made calls for the violence to end in the region. Maybe it is time to tighten the purse strings regarding foreign aid. But this situation will not be resolved with words alone.
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