Ethiopia: Whether since the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) proclamation of the regional administrative authorities, Oromia region is run by Oromo authorities and whether those authorities mistreat Amharas people and force them to leave Oromia region. If yes, whether regions to which Amharas can relocate are safe and if the EPRDF government has taken actions to protect them
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 28 September 2001 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | ETH37847.E |
| Reference | 2 |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ethiopia: Whether since the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) proclamation of the regional administrative authorities, Oromia region is run by Oromo authorities and whether those authorities mistreat Amharas people and force them to leave Oromia region. If yes, whether regions to which Amharas can relocate are safe and if the EPRDF government has taken actions to protect them, 28 September 2001, ETH37847.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3df4be3024.html [accessed 25 May 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
Information on whether the Oromia region is run by Oromo authorities could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate. However, on the US State Department Website, it is stated that:
The Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia was installed in August 1995. The EPRDF-led government of Prime Minister Meles has promoted a policy of ethnic federalism, devolving significant powers to regional, ethnically based authorities. Ethiopia today has 10 semi-autonomous administrative regions, which have the power to raise and spend their own revenues (Mar. 1998).
Various 2001 reports refer to incidents which took place in East Wollega zone of the Oromia region in which about 100 Amharas were killed by local government forces and many others were forced to leave the region (Addis Tribune 2 Mar. 2001; AP 28 Feb. 2001; PANA 28 Feb. 2001).
A 31 January 2001 BBC report indicated that Chairman of Bure Wodera, in Western Gojjam zone, revealed that "some Amharas nationals have quarrelled with East Wollega Zone administration officials." The same source did not provide further information on the causes of such quarrels, but it added that Disaster Prevention and Preparedness Commission (DPPC) was distributing aid to those were camped in Bure Wodera (ibid.).
Citing a "38th report" attributed to the Ethiopian Human Rights Council (EHRCO), a 2 March 2000 Addis Tribune article noted:
The president of the Oromia Regional State has admitted the prevalence of conflict between Amhara and Oromo nationals in East Wollega after "a year of silence". The report said ethnic conflicts have led to the death of a considerable number of people, and many sustained serious injuries while property worth thousands of birr have been destroyed. The report listed 100 Amhara nationals killed during the recent conflict in Gida Keramu Woreda, East Wollega Zone. The elite police in the area have used rocket-propelled grenades, mortars and machine guns against the Amhara nationals who have very little weapons of defense, according to the report. The over 10,900 displaced Amharas from East Wollega have traveled on foot 110 kms to reach Bure town in the Amhara Regional State where they are now in makeshift shelters, EHRCO said and added that there has been an inflow of displaced Amhara nationals to the town while it was in the process filing the report (2 Mar. 2001).
According to a 28 February 2001 PANA article, such incidents started in June 2000, "when officials of Ghida Kiramu Woreda allegedly decided to "expel" Amhara settlers in the area for "destroying forest and trees in the locality for farming purposes (PANA 28 Feb. 2001; AP 2001). The East Wollega zone is located in the Oromia regional state in Western Ethiopia while Ghida Kiramu Woreda is a district of East Wollega (ibid.)
Reporting on the subject, a 13 March 2001 Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP) communiqué stated that:
Thousands of Amharas who had lived for decades and more in Eastern Wellega have been forcefully chased out of Eastern Wollega in an ethnic discriminatory and violent campaign orchestrated by the EPRDF government. More than 12,000 people, with their farms and properties confiscated or burnt have been forced to flee into Bure (Gojjam) while scores of people, including women and children, have been killed in a pogrom-like campaign supervised by the local EPRDF cadres and officials. Not only has the government caused the suffering of the people but it has completely ignored their plight in the bare shelters where the displaced are faced with lack of food, medication, etc ... SOCEPP has vigorously condemned the ethnic discrimination and violence against Amharas which the government pursues as a matter of policy.
According to its Website, the Berlin (Germany), Oakdale (USA) and Toronto-based SOCEPP defines itself "a non sectarian, non-political, non profit humanitarian organization established by concerned people to publicise the plight of Ethiopian political prisoners and to solicit support from international public opinion on calling for the respect of human rights and due process of law in Ethiopia" (27 may 2001).
Corroborating information could not be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
References
Associated Press (AP). 28 February 2001. "Human rights Group: 100 Killed, 10900 Displaced by the Fighting in Western Ethiopia." (NEXIS)
Addis Tribune [Addis Ababa]. 2 March 2001. "Over 100 Killed in East Wollega" EHRCO Says Ethnic and Religious Conflicts Reach a Serious Stage."
BBC. 31 January 2001. "Ethiopia: Amhara Nationals Being Evacuated from Western District." (NEXIS)
Panafrican News Agency (PANA) [Dakar]. 28 February 2001. "Ethnic Clashes Claim 100 Lives, Displace 11, 000 Others."
Solidarity Committee for Ethiopian Political Prisoners (SOCEPP). 27 May 2001."About SOCEPP."
_____. 13 March 2001. "SOCEPP Calls for International Aid to the Thousands of Amharas Forced out of Eastern Wollega."
US Department of State, Bureau of Africa Affairs, Office of East Africa Affairs. March 1998. "Background Notes: Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia."
Additional Sources Consulted
Unsuccessfully attempts to reach Ethipian Human Rights Council (EHRCO) or to obtain its 38th report have been made.
Africa Confidential 1999-2001.
Africa Research Bulletin 1999-2001.
Amnesty International. Annaul reporst. 2000-2001.
Country Reports of Human Rifhts Practices for 2000. 2001.
Horn of Africa Bulletin.
The Indian Ocean Newsletter 2000-2001.
Jeune Afrique /L'Intelligent 2000-2001.
Keesing's Record of World Events 2000-2001.
LEXIS/NEXIS.
Resource Centre. Country File. Ethiopia.
Web sites, including:
AllAfrica.
Amnesty International.
Ethiopia First.
BBC Africa: Ethiopia.
Human Rights Watch (HRW).
Minorities at Risk Project.
Oromia Online.
ReliefWeb.
