Ethiopian Human Rights Commission puts Shirka toll at 48

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said attacks in Shirka Woreda, a district in southeast Oromia, on Oct. 24 killed 48 people.

The commission’s statement, reported by Addis Standard via AllAfrica on Nov. 4, raises pressure on federal and regional authorities after it counted 41 deaths in the main assault and seven more civilians killed by informal armed individuals nearby.

The rights body said an armed group identifying itself as the Oromo Liberation Army entered Birbona Chole Kebele, a local administrative unit, from four directions between 12:30 a.m. and 2:30 a.m. It said the dead included 23 locally organized security personnel, five militia members and 13 civilians, with seven additional civilians killed by informal armed individuals operating in the area.

The commission said 20 people were injured, 21 homes were burned and 247 families were displaced. It also said an undetermined number of cattle and pack animals were looted.

The commission said its investigation drew on interviews with victims, relatives of those killed, eyewitnesses, community representatives, religious leaders, medical personnel and government officials. It also cited field observations and digital investigative techniques.

Chief Commissioner Birhanu Adelo urged authorities to improve civilian protection, review local security arrangements, strengthen early-warning systems and respond more quickly to emerging threats, according to the statement. He also called for an independent and effective investigation to establish accountability, support victims’ families, enable displaced residents to return safely and provide compensation and rehabilitation.

The commission’s toll matches reporting by Addis Standard on Oct. 26, when residents who attended a mass funeral said at least 48 people had been killed in Chole and Birbo kebeles. Those residents also reported more than 31 wounded, compared with the commission’s figure of 20 injured; Addis Standard did not report why the figures differed.

Addis Standard said witnesses described door-to-door killings, looting and the use of heavy weapons, and said the victims included women, elderly people and at least six children under 15. Atlas360 reported on Oct. 27 that church officials said at least 60 Christians were killed in two attacks in Oromia, while authorities and local sources traded blame over the violence.

The latest commission statement follows security operations announced by the Oromia regional government. Addis Standard reported on Nov. 2 that the regional authorities said 73 people had been detained in connection with the attacks, as part of operations against OLF-Shane and other groups they consider security threats.

The regional government said security had been restored in six kebeles and that assistance was being provided to displaced residents to support their return. The commission, however, said the presence of informal armed groups outside formal security structures remained a concern.

The rights body cited Article 13(1) of Ethiopia’s Constitution, saying federal and regional institutions are obliged to respect, protect and fulfil rights to life, property, personal security and liberty. It said authorities should address underlying causes of insecurity, including oversight of informal armed groups, not only investigate violations after they occur.

The commission said it was finalizing a broader investigation into root causes and human-rights violations linked to attacks across several woredas in southeast Oromia. It said it is also investigating and monitoring abuses in Gambella, areas bordering Oromia and Somali regions, parts of Amhara and conflict-affected areas of Tigray.