Ethiopian Government Accused of Injustice in 2021 Killing of Aid Workers

A recent report by Doctors Without Borders accuses the Ethiopian government of failing to properly investigate the intentional killing of three aid workers in Tigray, implicating soldiers in the slayings without naming them directly. This revelation follows a similar finding by The New York Times and raises concerns over the government's commitment to accountability in a war-torn region.

The humanitarian organization Doctors Without Borders (known by its French name Médecins Sans Frontières) has raised grave concerns regarding the Ethiopian government's handling of the murders of three aid workers in the Tigray region in June 2021. A newly released report accuses Ethiopian soldiers of facilitating these tragic slayings, calling attention to the perceived lack of an effective investigation by the government.

In their report issued on Tuesday, Doctors Without Borders highlighted the harrowing circumstances under which the aid workers were killed, emphasizing that the perpetrators had to be aware that they were targeting civilians. Raquel Ayora, a senior administrator with the organization, underscored the gravity of the situation, stating unequivocally, "Our team was executed."

The report aligns with findings unveiled in a 2022 investigation by The New York Times, which pointed to an Ethiopian military officer giving orders to eliminate the aid workers shortly before their deaths. Despite these serious allegations, Doctors Without Borders has refrained from naming specific individuals directly. However, the group's findings suggest a pattern of hostility from Ethiopian forces against international aid entities in the time leading up to the incident, worsening the already dangerous context in which these workers operated.

Despite the Ethiopian government's promises of an ongoing investigation, families of the victims reportedly remain without substantial answers or any progress regarding accountability for the murders. The absence of transparent follow-up raises questions about the government’s willingness to confront acts of violence against humanitarian workers, which are critical in the ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis in the region.