International Oromo Lawyers Association, IOLA, Strongly condemns the cowardly drone attacks in civilians in Western Oromia.

Since it came to power in April 2018, the current Ethiopian government has been indiscriminately killing innocent civilians in the Western and Southern parts of Oromia. It intensified its attack in western Oromia where is used Arial bombardments through drone attacks and fighter jets on schools and marketplaces killing hundreds of innocent civilians that included children and elderlies.

Most recently, the government launched several drone attacks in Western Oromia. On October 19th, and October 23rd, 2022, drone attacks killed more than one hundred civilians in Metta Welkite an in Cobi county of Western Showa. On November 2nd, 2022, the government massacred innocent civilians that included children, students, and elderlies after deploying several drones on the area. On November 9th, 2022, the government conducted yet other drone attacks on civilians in the town of Mendi killing several civilians and wounding hundreds. IOLA, is in possession of recorded statements of eyewitnesses, pictures, and video records of the attacks.

While denouncing the government’s heinous attack on civilians, we plead to the international community to act swiftly and stop more killings from happening. The perpetrators should be held accountable for committing crime against humanity in violation of the Geneva Convention to which it is a state party. Even though Ethiopia is not a state Party to the Rome statute of the the International Criminal Court, we request the UN Security Council refer the matter to the ICC.

Ironically, Ethiopia is a state party to multiple international human rights treaties, including the convention against torture and other cruel inhuman degrading treatment. These treaties oblige the government and outline guarantees for protection of civilians. We do not expect the Ethiopian government abide by International customary and treaty laws when it has no respect for its own domestic laws.

IOLA, pleads to the United Nations to exert pressure on Ethiopian government to stop killing innocent civilians. We urge UN human rights commission to investigate the crime against humanity in Western Oromia, Ethiopia.

IOLA Executive Board

CC:    United Nations Human Rights Commission,

Office of the United States Special envoy of the horn of Africa,

European Union,

Amnesty International,

Human Rights Watch