One year has passed since the assassination of Bate Urgessa – a political officer of the opposition Oromo Liberation Front (OLF), a fearless advocate for justice, and a man who, until his final breath, believed in the possibility of democratic change in Ethiopia. One year later, we are still waiting for accountability. We are still waiting for truth. We are still waiting for justice.
Instead, we are met with silence, stonewalling, and state-sanctioned intimidation. This publication was the first to report that Bate was ruthlessly assassinated by government forces.
According to a damning letter obtained , the EHRC had, within days of Bate’s killing, unearthed compelling testimony and evidence suggesting the involvement of state security forces. Eyewitnesses described vehicles matching those used by government troops, armed men in the notorious “Ranger” uniform with red bonnets, and Bate being abducted and later executed – his hands tied, body riddled with bullets. The Commission even pinpointed the time and manner of the crime. Yet instead of its investigation gaining traction, the truth was buried under the unknown.
Instead of collaborating with the investigations to uncover the truth, Oromia regional government deployed its now-familiar playbook: deflect, deny, and denounce – accusing “political entities” of capitalizing on the tragedy while threatening journalists and rights advocates from reporting what the public has a right to know.
Several months later, Bate’s widow and his children were forced into life in exile.
Let us be absolutely clear: this is not just about one man’s murder – as horrific and unjust as it was. This is about the deliberate dismantling of the rule of law and accountability in Ethiopia. If a high-profile political figure like Bate Urgessa can be abducted, executed, and denied justice in full view of the public – with federal human rights bodies openly bullied into silence – or perhaps systematically collaborated to bury the truth – what does that say about the fate of ordinary citizens?
EHRC’s findings, however preliminary, deserve public release. The Commission’s silence since April 2024 is a failure of moral and legal responsibility. Its mandate is not optional; it is enshrined in law. The people of Oromia, the family of Bate, and indeed all Ethiopians deserve to know what it uncovered. Justice delayed is justice denied – and this delay is no longer defensible.
The federal government must also answer for its abdication. What steps have been taken to ensure EHRC’s preliminary findings are protected? Where is the response to calls from international stakeholders – from the U.S. and the European Union – who have demanded a credible, neutral investigation?
Instead of transparency, we are offered a year-long impunity. Instead of accountability, we are left in the dark. This is a mockery of justice.
Bate Urgessa’s life was stolen – not in the heat of conflict, not in a moment of chaos, but in what appears to be a premeditated, politically motivated execution. His legacy should not be fear. His memory must not be erased by bureaucratic cowardice or official denial. Ethiopia cannot afford to continue normalizing extrajudicial killings. To do so would be to forfeit our collective future.
