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Monday, October 21, 2024

Oromia's Guji zones ravaged by conflict, civilians trapped amid human rights abuses

 The Oromia region has been plagued by a militarized conflict for the past six years, with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and federal as well as regional security forces locked in a protracted battle. Despite two rounds of peace talks to silence the guns, the conflict shows no signs of abating, leaving local communities caught in the crossfire and many displaced.

The Guji and West Guji zones have become the epicenter of this violence, bearing the brunt of severe human rights abuses and widespread destruction. These areas have suffered some of the heaviest consequences since the conflict began, with extrajudicial killings, sexual violence, and mass arrests becoming disturbingly common.

The human rights crisis in the region has been further exacerbated by the government’s decision in February 2023 to restructure administrative boundaries, leading to widespread unrest. This decision resulted in the creation of the East Borana zone from parts of the Guji, Bale, and Borana zones and ignited protests that were met with violent crackdowns by security forces.

A recent report by the Center for the Advancement of Rights and Democracy (CARD) highlights the extent of these violations.  According to the report, government forces have engaged in cycles of violence.

Amidst this violence, the toll on ordinary lives is deeply felt by those affected, as personal stories unveil the broader human rights violations that afflict the region.

One such story is that of Dureti Jirma, an 18-year-old student who has twice been a victim of this conflict. In December 2021, while walking home from school in the Goro Dola district ,a former district of Guji now part of East Borana zone, Dureti was assaulted by members of government forces. “They attacked me so violently that I lost consciousness,” she recalls. Local women found her and rushed her to a nearby hospital, where she received emergency treatment.

The trauma of the assault forced Dureti to halt her education for nearly a year as she struggled to recover physically and emotionally. With the support of family and hospital staff, she eventually resumed her studies in October 2022, determined to move forward.

However, sexual violence is one of many harrowing human rights abuses that residents of the Guji zones endure daily. Across the the Guji and west Guji zones, civilians endure a broader pattern of abuse, including arbitrary detentions and brutal interrogations.

The story of Jarso Wako (name changed), a 28-year-old lecturer at Bule Hora University and resident of West Guji, illustrates the impact of this conflict on ordinary citizens.

On  07 July , 2024, his life was upended when police officers surrounded his rented home in Bule Hora town. “Two officers came inside and called me outside. As soon as I stepped out, one slapped me, and the other kicked me,” he recalled. The officers dragged him to a waiting Land Cruiser and took him to a military camp at Bule Hora University.

At the camp, Jarso endured hours of interrogation and mistreatment. “They accused me of organizing protests and inciting unrest, but the charges were completely fabricated,” he explained. After the camp, he was transferred to the Bule Hora City police station, where he was held for two weeks in harsh conditions.

When his case finally reached the district court, the judge ordered his release due to a lack of evidence. However, the police ignored the ruling and transferred him to the West Guji zonal court, where the same charges were reviewed. Once again, the court ordered his release, but Jarso remained in detention for a total of 65 days before he was finally freed.

According to CARD’s report, arbitrary detentions like Jarso’s are common, particularly among the youth, who are often held without due process in overcrowded detention centers. The conflict has created a climate of fear, where anyone can be detained or mistreated at any moment.

Marga Fekadu, a human rights researcher and lecturer at Wolkite University, has spent years documenting these abuses. He describes the region as scarred by the conflict, with human rights violations woven into the fabric of daily life.

“The region has experienced multiple states of emergency, both official and unofficial, creating an atmosphere of constant fear and instability,” Marga noted.

He stressed that the suffering of those living in the Guji zones often goes unnoticed by the outside world. “The consequences are far-reaching, yet too often ignored,” he said, drawing attention to the silence surrounding the crisis.

The impact of the conflict, however, extends to entire communities that have been profoundly affected, with many towns and neighborhoods disrupted since the outbreak of violence.


Tuesday, October 8, 2024

Media association calls for release of journalists imprisoned for over two years without verdict

 The Ethiopian Mass Media Professionals Association has called on the authorities to release journalists imprisoned for over two years without verdict, while also urging for more actions to ensure a more open media environment in Ethiopia.

The association issued a press release after its newly elected executives visited Kaliti and Kilinto prison facilities in the capital Addis Abeba, where they met several detained journalists, some of whom the association confirmed to have been detained for over two years without verdict.

“While the journalists did not raise concerns about their treatment in prison, they expressed concerns over how they were arrested and regarding the handling of their cases at the court,” the statement noted, emphasizing the urgent need for their trials to be free of political interference.

Many journalists are experiencing imprisonment or exile due to the ongoing political crisis in the country, posing serious risks to their safety and professional freedom, the association stated, reaffirming its commitment towards the protection and professional autonomy of journalists working under challenging conditions.

In April last year, the association called on the government to “immediately release” all media professionals that are detained by security forces “without any legal procedure”, listing at least six journalists.

Ethiopia has been ranked as the third-worst country in Africa for imprisoning journalists in 2023, trailing behind Eritrea and Egypt, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).