Ethiopia rebels gang-raped children: Amnesty

Amnesty International has reported incidents of serious human rights abuses in the Oromia region of Ethiopia, involving summary executions, gang rapes, and sexual slavery committed by rebel groups between 2020 and 2024.

Oromia is Ethiopia's most populous region, with approximately 40 million residents. The area has been a site of conflict between the Ethiopian military and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) since 2018.

Amnesty International conducted interviews with 10 survivors of sexual violence in two districts of Oromia. Seven of the survivors were minors at the time of the assaults. Health professionals also contributed information to the investigation.

Nine survivors reported attacks by OLA fighters. Five individuals were subjected to sexual slavery, with two resulting pregnancies. In one instance, a mother and her child were detained for three weeks, during which they were repeatedly assaulted.

The report highlights that these acts were facilitated by a communication blackout, which hindered international awareness of the ongoing violence against civilians.

Amnesty International has characterized these abuses as potentially amounting to war crimes. The report aims to raise awareness of the situation and encourage international attention to address the ongoing impunity surrounding these acts.

Ethiopia, with a population of approximately 130 million, is facing multiple armed conflicts. In addition to the situation in Oromia, the Amhara region has experienced clashes since 2023. The country is also dealing with the aftermath of a previous conflict in the Tigray region, which resulted in significant loss of life and displacement.

Based on reporting by Africanews.