Ethiopia declares state of emergency as UN set to release report on Tigray abuses

SMA NEWS – ETHIOPIA

Ethiopia has declared a nationwide state of emergency and ordered residents of Addis Ababa to prepare to defend their neighbourhoods amid fears Tigrayan rebels are heading for the capital.

It comes as a UN report on abuses committed during the war in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region is set to be published.

The emergency measures came after several days of reported advances by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) rebel group, which is locked in a brutal year-long war against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

“The state of emergency is aimed to protect civilians from atrocities being committed by the terrorist TPLF group in several parts of the country,” state-affiliated Fana Broadcasting Corporate reported.

Possible restrictions include a curfew, road closures and searches of “anyone suspected of collaborating with terror groups”, Fana said.

The measure also allows the authorities to conscript “any military age citizen who has weapons” or suspend any media outlets believed to be “giving moral support directly or indirectly” to the TPLF, Fana said.

Lawmakers were expected to approve the state of emergency within 24 hours, it said.

There have been widespread accusations against Ethiopian and allied Eritrean soldiers of gang rapes, mass killings of civilians and accusations of blocking humanitarian aid.

A joint investigation by the UN Human Rights Office and the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has documented alleged violations of human rights, humanitarian and refugee law committed by all parties during the conflict in Tigray.

But investigators have been accused by the party controlling Tigray of not visiting many of the sites where the violence occurred.

There have also been accusations of gang rapes and killings by Tigrayan forces, particularly by Eritrean refugees living in Tigray.