Calls for Justice After Killing of Aid Workers in Ethiopia

In a recent report, Doctors Without Borders alleges that Ethiopian soldiers were responsible for the murder of three aid workers in 2021, criticizing the government's inadequate investigation and demanding accountability.

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has publicly condemned the Ethiopian government for failing to investigate the killings of three of its aid workers in the Tigray region in June 2021, asserting that the slayings were deliberate acts committed by military personnel. The charity released an extensive report on Tuesday, revealing evidence suggesting involvement by Ethiopian soldiers and denouncing the lack of accountability in a case that has strained relations with international humanitarian organizations.

With the civil war in Tigray intensifying at the time of the incident, the bullet-ridden bodies of the aid workers were discovered on a desolate roadside, prompting immediate calls for justice. “Our team was executed,” stated Raquel Ayora, a senior figure within Doctors Without Borders, during a press conference in Nairobi. She emphasized the egregious nature of the attacks, asserting that the assailants were well aware that they were targeting civilians.

While the report refrains from naming specific individuals responsible for the killings, it aligns with prior findings from a 2022 New York Times investigation that identified an Ethiopian military officer who allegedly ordered the killings of the humanitarian workers. The report further highlighted hostile actions by the Ethiopian government against international aid groups leading up to the murders, with military forces operating in the vicinity at the time.

Despite ongoing reassurances from the government regarding an investigation, the families of the deceased aid workers have expressed frustration over the absence of transparent and credible information regarding the events surrounding their deaths. This echoes broader concerns about the safety of humanitarian aid workers in conflict zones, as they continue to risk their lives in service to those in desperate need.