Thread by @KjetilTronvoll

1/ The #Ethiopia/n government has informed the diplomatic community in the country on the “measures taken by the Government on human rights violations related to the conflict in the northern part of the country.”
#Tigray #warcrimes #CrimesAgainstHumanity #genocide

https://twitter.com/MOJEthiopia/status/1532084390649536513

2/ One may argue however that it seems evident that PM #AbiyAhmed, #PP government, and #ENDF military leadership in #Ethiopia are ultimately politically and juridically responsible for the #warcrimes, #crimesagainsthumanity, and possibly #genocide for their war in and on #Tigray.

3/ ICRC in #internationalhumanitarianlaw commentary: “Commanders & other superiors are criminally responsible for war crimes committed by their subordinates if they knew, or had reason to know, that the subordinates were about to commit or were committing such crimes... (cont.)

4/ "... and did not take all necessary and reasonable measures in their power to prevent their commission, or if such crimes had been committed, to punish the persons responsible.”

5/ There is ample evidence that PM #AbiyAhmed, members of #Ethiopia government, and the #ENDF leadership were aware of the #atrocities committed in #Tigray, condoned it, and even at times encouraged such actions to take place.

6/ Very seldom however will an incumbent government allow investigation and prosecution of such crimes against themselves. «Shit rolls downhill» is a military expression apparently fitting the #Ethiopia/n government’s current so-called “accountability strategy”.

7/ Instead we can expect that blame for the atrocities in #Tigray are pushed down the ranks to lower level officers and rank and file soldiers who will be singled out for persecution.

8/ If political and military top-level accountability will take place, this would need to be included as an element in a possible future “peace agreement” between the Government of Tigray and the Federal Government of Ethiopia.

9/ However, at this juncture, z classic dilemma of “peace or justice” will occur: it is highly unlikely that #Ethiopia/n government will accept a peace agreement which may lead to the arrest & persecution of PM #AbiyAhmed, the Ministers of Defense, Peace, & Justice, & #ENDF tops.

10/ So, herein lies the dilemma for #Tigray government – to achieve peace with the #Ethiopia government they must accept that the political and military leaders responsible for the massive atrocities inflicted upon the Tigrayan people will NOT be held to account.

11/ For #Tigray gov. to endorse such a “peace agreement” will conversely put them at risk of massive criticism from the #Tegaru, who have been victims of the atrocities.

12/ Furthermore, #TPLF has repeatedly stated that they will not give up the struggle before the political leaders in Addis (and Asmara) are held to account, so they would also need to double-back on their promises given to the people of #Tigray.

13/ So, although there are signs of movement in a political dialogue between #Mekelle & #Addis, there is no quick fix to a deal. We should also be aware of that z outcome of a possible “agreement” may again spark protests from the many, many victims of atrocity crimes in #Tigray.