Amnesty International accuses Tigray rebels of raping women in Amhara region

AMHARA, Nov. 10 (YPA) – Amnesty International on Wednesday accused rebels from Tigray province in northern Ethiopia of raping and beating women in neighbouring Amhara province last August.

The organization said it collected testimonies from 16 women who said they had been abused by fighters from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) as they crossed the Nefas Mewcha area of Amhara province between August 12 and 21.

According to the report, the women identified the ethnic identity of their attackers through their tone and ethnic insults, and said that some of them stated that they belonged to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front.

Of the 16 women heard by the international human rights organization, 14 confirmed that they had been gang-raped by these fighters.

Many of these women confirmed that the fighters who had attacked them looted food, jewellery, telephones or money from them.

Amnesty also interviewed the director of Nefas Mewcha  Hospital and local and regional officials who were informed of the crimes.

Authorities in Amhara province say 71 women were raped during this period, but the Ministry of Justice confirms that the number is 73.

The heinous acts documented by Amnesty constitute war crimes and possible crimes against humanity,” said  Amnesty International’s Secretary-General, Agnes Callamard.

E.M