Ethiopian rights body calls Tigray's forced recruitment a 'war crime'

Ethiopia's Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has labeled the forced recruitment of civilians in the Tigray region as a "war crime." The commission stated that this practice, carried out by an armed group outside state control, constitutes labor exploitation and a violation of international law.

The EHRC's statement comes amid heightened tensions and a new armed conflict between Tigrayan rebels and the federal Ethiopian government. The commission argues that the recruitment drive, initiated by the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) in early June, contravenes the 2022 Pretoria agreement that ended a brutal two-year war.

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Given that this practice is carried out by an armed group outside the State, it can be considered labor exploitation and a war crime.

Furthermore, the EHRC criticized a TPLF proclamation that imposes the death penalty for various offenses, including damaging defense supplies, threatening peace and security in Tigray, collaborating with enemies, or undermining national unity. The new regulations also stipulate prison sentences of up to 25 years for those who resist or desert the mandatory recruitment campaign, along with fines for evading mobilization orders.

According to the EHRC, the mandatory enlistment campaign has involved door-to-door raids and the recruitment of minors. The commission emphasized that the forced recruitment of children and vulnerable individuals violates Ethiopia's constitution and international human rights treaties. It called for an immediate cessation of this practice and urged both the rebels and the federal government to avoid actions that could escalate tensions. Human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, have also condemned the TPLF's new regulations and called for their withdrawal.

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The forced recruitment of children and other vulnerable persons for military service or for their use in hostilities violates the Constitution and the principles and provisions of international human rights treaties.