Bahir Dar, (SONNA):- A horrific massacre by the Ethiopian army in the town of Merawi, 30 km south of Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara region, has left dozens of civilians dead and many more wounded, according to eyewitnesses.
The massacre took place on January 29, when the Ethiopian army stormed the town and indiscriminately shot and killed men, young and old, who were dragged out of their homes and businesses. Some of the victims were reportedly beaten before being executed.
One witness, who lost his brother in the massacre, said: “It was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. The only thing you can imagine with this kind of cruelty is in horror movies. They had no mercy, no compassion, no humanity.”
The exact number of casualties is unknown, but eyewitnesses estimated that between 50 and 100 men were killed by the Ethiopian army. The town of Merawi has been under a communication blackout since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed imposed a curfew in August 2023, in an attempt to quell the uprising in the Amhara region.
The Amhara people, who make up the second largest ethnic group in Ethiopia, have been resisting the central government’s policies and actions, which they perceive as oppressive and discriminatory. They have formed a militia group called Fano, which has been clashing with the Ethiopian army since last April.
The massacre in Merawi has sparked outrage and condemnation from human rights groups and the international community, who have called for an independent and impartial investigation into the incident and the prosecution of those responsible.
Amnesty International, a global human rights organization, said: “The indiscriminate killings of civilians fuel the hatred against the government. The lack of accountability in Ethiopia further encourages criminals. The authorities must ensure that justice is served for the victims and their families, and that such atrocities are never repeated.”
