The Massacre in the Afar region, Ethiopia

Press Release June 14, 2008

A well planned military attack by contraband-led Issa-Somalis took place in Mille and Adaytu villages of the Afar Region which are situated some 530 km from the capital Addis Ababa between June 10 and June 12, 2008. The first attack was on health team from regional health bureau who was on vaccination campaign mission to Leedi Kebele, where two government employees were massacred cold-blooded and their vehicle was confiscated. The next raid occurred the same day in an attempt to invade the village of Adaytu, where 30 civilians were massacred and 26 wounded.

More killing was also reported by the Ethiopian government army that attacked the Afars who were gathered to collect their dead. The Afar pastoralists are reported to be victims of current drought, systematic invasion policy of Issa -Somalis as well as irresponsible government army massacre. In this regard, there is a hidden and sever human rights abuses that needs an immediate action from the international community.

The chronic conflict between Afars and Issas that was intensified since 1960 has claimed thousands of civilian lives. The nature of the conflict altered since the independence of Somalia and Djibouti, driven by the ambition of Greater Somalia. Many observers and governments in the Horn of Africa still vow the argument of the interethnic conflicts, which has its roots in pastoral gazing land. However, this argument proved to be wrong in many aspects, where both the then Siad Barre in Somalia and the Djibouti governments wish to push the Afar pastoralists from their fertile land along the Awash Valley and occupy the territory to realise the vision of Greater Somalia. Therewith, the Afars are prisoners in their “Regional State”, which lacks a mandate to secure a peaceful existence of its nation.

The TPLF regime which made Ethiopia land locked country is now depending on Djibouti for its sea outlet. Therefore, the TPLF regime is scarifying the Afar people to have a good relation with Djibouti’s Issa government since its independence 1977. Despite the number of research proposals from Addis Ababa University and the complaints from Afar elders to resolve the conflict, the TPLF regime has not yet paid any attention to determine the issue and to create a conducive environment for a peaceful coexistence between the Afars and the Issas. There have been reliable casualty reports of Afar civilians and human rights abuses in border conflict during Ethio-Eritrean war 1998-2000 and in current border conflict between Eritrea and Djibouti again.

Afar Human Rights Organisation (AHRO) calls up on:

United Nation, AU, EU, Arab league, Human Rights Watch and

Amnesty International to investigate human rights abuses in the Afar region.

For further inquiry and support please contact “Afar Human”

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