Justice for Tigray: Can Ethiopia Confront Its Dark Past?

As the scars of war linger, Ethiopia embarks on a transitional justice process to address the horrific atrocities of the Tigray conflict.

Global News / 10:10 AM GMT-3 • November 7, 2024

The Tigray conflict, which erupted in November 2020, has left a devastating legacy of violence and suffering. With estimates of over 600,000 lives lost and countless atrocities committed, the need for justice and accountability has never been more urgent. As the Ethiopian government prepares to launch a transitional justice process, questions loom about its sincerity and effectiveness in addressing the painful realities faced by survivors like Meaza Teklemariam, who lost her husband to brutal military actions. This blog post delves into the complexities of Ethiopia's path toward justice, highlighting the challenges and hopes that lie ahead.

The Mahbere Dego Massacre: A Heart-Wrenching Account In January 2021, Meaza Teklemariam's world was shattered when soldiers stormed her home, dragging her husband, Tsegaye, away under the accusation of being a fighter. Despite his pleas of being a civilian farmer, he and dozens of other men were executed in a horrific display of violence captured on video and shared on social media. The Mahbere Dego massacre is emblematic of the systematic atrocities that occurred during the Tigray conflict, leaving behind a trail of grief and loss. Local priest Gebremeskal Berhe reflects on the aftermath, stating, “It was heartbreaking. We don’t know the exact number of people buried here; we can only guess.” This sentiment echoes throughout Tigray, where families are left to mourn without closure. The Government's Transitional Justice Initiative Two years since the conflict's end, Ethiopia's government is attempting to address these grave injustices through a transitional justice process. In April 2023, the cabinet approved a policy that aims to establish a special prosecutor and court for serious abuses, alongside a truth commission. This initiative is intended to cover crimes committed not only during the civil war but also throughout the past three decades. While this move has garnered praise from international donors, skepticism remains. Human rights organizations express concern about the government's commitment to genuine accountability, particularly given its previous attempts to downplay or deny the existence of abuses during the conflict.

Laetitia Bader, Horn of Africa director at Human Rights Watch, emphasizes the gravity of the situation: “Time and time again, the government has demonstrated outright resistance to any international oversight, scrutiny, and transparency. And we are seeing that again with this process.”

The Role of International Oversight A significant concern surrounding Ethiopia's transitional justice process is the lack of international involvement. While initial drafts suggested the inclusion of international experts, the final policy restricts their role to training and advisory capacities. The government's insistence on a nationally led process raises alarms regarding the efficacy and impartiality of the justice system. Critics argue that without international oversight, the transitional justice process risks becoming a façade, primarily aimed at appeasing external observers while failing to deliver real accountability for victims and their families. The Ongoing Struggles in Ethiopia As the transitional justice process begins to take shape, ongoing violence in regions like Amhara and Oromia casts a shadow over its potential success. Reports of massacres and human rights abuses continue to emerge, raising questions about the government’s ability to ensure justice in a climate of fear and instability. Ethiopia's army chief has downplayed the severity of reported atrocities, suggesting a reluctance to confront the truth of the past. This resistance to accountability not only undermines the transitional justice process but also perpetuates a cycle of violence and distrust among the populace.

The journey toward justice for the victims of the Tigray conflict is fraught with challenges and uncertainties. While Ethiopia's government has taken steps to establish a transitional justice process, the lack of transparency, international oversight, and ongoing violence raises significant doubts about its effectiveness. For survivors like Meaza Teklemariam, the quest for justice is not merely about legal accountability; it is about recognition, healing, and the hope for a future free from the shadows of past atrocities. As the world watches, Ethiopia stands at a crossroads—will it choose the path of genuine reconciliation, or will it allow the cries for justice to fade into silence?

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