Ethnic cleansing documented in western Tigray

Tigrayans are being targeted in a campaign of ethnic cleansing in part of Ethiopia’s conflict-hit northern Tigray region, a joint investigation has found.

Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch (HRW) accuse officials and security forces from neighbouring Amhara of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in western Tigray — allegations dismissed by Amhara’s regional government.

Amnesty and HRW say the evidence collected over a year shows that western Tigray has been the site of some of the worst atrocities committed during the 16-month war — and has been largely ignored.

The conflict has forced millions of people to flee their homes — and left hundreds of thousands on the brink of famine.

The war is continuing — though a humanitarian truce was declared less than two weeks ago that has seen several lorries of food make it to the capital of Tigray for the first time in months.