Mass Detentions of Tigrayans: Unraveling the Tapestry of Suffering and the Fight for Accountability

Photo Credit: Rara Media

The genocidal war on Tigray continues to cast a long and devastating shadow, its tendrils reaching beyond the battlefields and into the lives of ordinary citizens. Among the most disturbing chapters within this unfolding tragedy are the mass detentions of Tigrayans, solely based on their ethnicity, and still in detention. This article weaves a tapestry of this human rights crisis, drawing from documented accounts and documented abuses. It concludes with urgent calls for accountability and respect for human rights.

Waves of Arrests: From Trigger Points to a Climate of Persecution

The genocide on Tigray, ignited in November 2020, unleashed a cascade of violence and displacement. Woven into this fabric of suffering are distinct waves of mass arrests targeting Tigrayans, each coinciding with pivotal moments in the war. While the United Nations estimates a staggering 15,000 detentions between November 2021 and February 2022, investigative reports like Reuters' paint a bleaker picture, with additional 3,000 individuals swept up in this arbitrary net. Political activists such as Hailu Kebede from Salsay Woyane as documented by VoA give much higher numbers. This systematic targeting, irrespective of age, gender, or individual affiliation, but yes with ethnicity, has created a pervasive climate of fear and persecution that continues to grip the Tigrayan community, with thousands of currently unconstitutionality detained Tigrayans.

Detention Centers: From Makeshift Shelters to Symbols of Injustice

For many detainees, their ordeal begins with a descent into unimaginable conditions. Makeshift detention centers, repurposed from cinemas, factories, Tigrayan owned construction companies, even unfinished buildings and an unfinished prison, transform into grim symbols of state-sanctioned suffering. Overcrowding suffocates these centers, forcing thousands, to endure unsanitary conditions with limited access to basic necessities. Detainees share harrowing accounts of suffocating confinement, witnessing and experiencing unimaginable abuses, and the denial of basic hygiene and medical treatment. Beatings, extortion by guards, and even medical treatment denial add layers of cruelty to this unfolding tragedy. One person I spoke to said they were given one bread a day and were denied medications. 

Enforced Disappearances: Haunting Silences and the Shadow of Uncertainty

Adding another layer of anguish are the chilling reports of enforced disappearances. This practice, defined as state-sanctioned abductions followed by denial of whereabouts, leaves families in a soul-crushing limbo, their loved ones’ fate shrouded in agonizing uncertainty. Journalists critical of the genocide  were subjected to torture and inhumane treatment. The lack of information and accountability surrounding these disappearances compounds the human cost of this conflict, leaving wounds that fester in the absence of justice.

Government's Narrative: A Frayed Fabric of Denial

Despite overwhelming evidence documented by human rights organizations, the Ethiopian government sticks to a narrative woven with denial and now absolute silence about the ongoing detentions. They maintained that the detentions solely target individuals suspected of ties to the TPLF, conveniently utilizing the inherent subjectivity of such accusations and orchestrating undeniable mass arrests. This selective justification is a mere fig leaf, unable to obscure the clear pattern of ethnic targeting. This denial not only perpetuates the injustice but also serves as a formidable obstacle on the path towards accountability. Now, there is no word regarding the currently detained from the Federal government nor pressures by the Tigray Interim Regional Administration. No words have been heard by the international community regarding the continued arrest either!

Beyond the Report: Weaving a Future of Accountability and Human Rights

Amplifying the voices of witnesses and human rights organizations is essential to ensuring accountability and preventing further violations. This entails:

• The international community must specifically demand the Ethiopian government to do the following:

-Unconditionally release all unlawfully detained Tigrayans.

-Allow independent, impartial investigations into the documented abuses 

-Uphold international human rights law.

• Sustained international monitoring: Continued pressure and independent investigations are crucial in exposing abuses and holding perpetrators accountable.

• Understanding the human impact: Exploring the impact of these detentions on families and communities, their stories of loss and resilience, is vital in humanizing the crisis and galvanizing action.

• Delving into the legal complexities: Examining the legal framework surrounding the detentions, violations of international law, and avenues for pursuing justice and reparation can guide advocacy efforts.

Remember this is an ongoing violation and I was re-traumatized even writing about it!