On Tuesday, the ambassador of Ethiopia to Geneva denied a UN investigation's conclusion that Addis Abeba may have committed crimes against humanity in Tigray, including using hunger as a weapon of war.

Ethiopia's permanent ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Zenebe Kebede, told AFP that there is "no single evidence" that the government utilized humanitarian supplies as a weapon of war.

Since violence broke out in the northern Tigray region in November 2020, the Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia claimed it had discovered evidence of widespread breaches committed by all parties.

"Reasonable grounds to believe that the Federal Government and affiliated regional State governments have committed and continue to commit the crimes against humanity of persecution on ethnic grounds and other inhumane actions," the report stated.

This included refusing Tigray, a region of six million people where the UN claims famine-like conditions are occurring, badly needed help, including food and medication.

Despite Addis Ababa's opposition, the UN Human Rights Council established the panel last December. It was composed of three independent rights experts.

The commission was "politically driven," according to Ambassador Zenebe, and its conclusions were "self contradictory and biased."

Therefore, he stated, "We are left with no choice but to reject this report, just as we have rejected the resolution that created it and the very creation of this mechanism."

Ethiopia Denies Crimes Against Humanity in Tigray Crisis

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