NAIROBI (KENYA) – Scores of women have been raped in Ethiopia’s northerly Tigray region, authorities have confirmed, in the chaotic aftermath of an armed conflict last year that ousted the local ruling party.
Ethiopian Women’s Minister Filsan Abdullahi tweeted late on Thursday, “We have received the report back from our Taskforce team on the ground in the Tigray region, they have unfortunately established rape has taken place conclusively and without a doubt.”
Filsan’s comments were the first official confirmation by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
The state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said that 108 rapes had been reported in Tigray, which amounts to nearly half in the regional capital Mekelle, in the last two months.
Though Abiy’s federal troops took control of Mekelle at the end of November from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Then on, fighting has continued, with restrictions imposed on communications and access to the mountainous region of 5 million peopl.
A few victims have identified their abusers as federal forces or allied soldiers. That said, the government has said it does not tolerate sexual violence.
The Rights Commission said there were many rapes, which were likely to not be reported.
“The war and the dismantling of the regional administration have led to a rise in gender-based violence in the region. Local structures such as police and health facilities where victims of sexual violence would normally turn to report such crimes are no longer in place,” it said.
Spokesman Adinew Abera said the Women’s Ministry had so far evaluated only Mekelle and the nearby town of Quiha, adding: “We will deploy experts to all districts of Tigray. So the number will be higher than what is mentioned.”