The 58th Session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva saw renewed calls for accountability regarding human rights violations committed by Eritrean Defense Forces in Tigray. Addressing the Council, the Assistant Secretary-General at the UN Human Rights Office, Ilze Brands-Kehris emphasized the ongoing impunity of Eritrean Defense Forces and their continued presence in Tigray despite Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.
The Assistant Secretary General issued a stark warning, stressing the lack of accountability for past and ongoing violations. She referenced findings from the Joint OHCHR-Ethiopia Human Rights Commission investigation in 2023, which documented serious human rights abuses committed by Eritrean Defense Forces during the war on Tigray. “This impunity continues to embolden perpetrators of human rights violations,” she stated. “In the current context, there is no likely prospect that the domestic judicial system will hold perpetrators accountable for the violations committed in the context of the Tigray conflict.”
Despite the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) signed in November 2022, which mandated the withdrawal of foreign forces, the Assistant Secretary-General stressed that Eritrean forces remain in Tigray and continue to commit atrocities. “Our office has credible information that Eritrean Defense Forces remain in Tigray and are committing violations, including abduction, rape, property looting, and arbitrary arrests,” she noted.
In light of the ongoing violations, the Assistant Secretary-General called for immediate action, demanding the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from Ethiopian territory. “I call for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean Defense Forces from Tigray,” she urged.
As the demand for accountability grows, the international community faces mounting pressure to ensure justice for victims of the war on Tigray and hold perpetrators responsible. With Eritrean forces still operating in Tigray, the path to lasting stability remains uncertain.