Adi Hageray massacre

The Adi Hageray massacre was a mass extrajudicial killing that took place in Adi Hageray (Tigrinya: ዓዲ ሃገራይ) in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia during the Tigray War, on 12-18 November 2020.[1][2] Adi Hageray is a town of the northwestern zone of Tigray.

Adi Hageray massacre
Part of Tigray War
Adi Hageray
Adi Hageray
Location of Adi Hageray in Tigray
LocationAdi Hageray (Tigrinya: ዓዲ ሃገራይ), Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Date12-18 November 2020
TargetTigrayans
Attack type
Deathsapprox. 200 civilians
Perpetrators Ethiopian National Defence Force
Eritrean Defence Forces

Massacre

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) killed two hundred civilians in Adi Hageray (Northwestern Tigray) on 12-18 November 2020.[1] The ENDF troops came first to the town and killed the people they found on their way. They rapidly left the town to the EDF troops, who up to November 18, massacred civilians, in the streets and in houses. People who came out to collect the bodies of their killed family relatives and friends were shot dead also. The killing spread towards the neighbouring Zagir village also.[3] Typical massacres committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers in the Tigray war are (1) revenge when they lose a battle; (2) to terrorise and extract information about whereabouts of TPLF leaders; (3) murder of suspected family members of TDF fighters and (4) terrorising the Tigray society as a whole such as in case of mass killings in churches.[4] The Adi Hageray massacre, was both a revenge massacre as well with the aim of terrorising the society. One of the oldest victims was Ma'asho Gebremedhin, who was killed for saying: “Today woyane, Tomorrow woyane”. The EDF soldiers tied, shot and then burned him. He was around 80 years old.

Perpetrators

Tghat interpreted the identity of the perpetrators as Ethiopian soldiers, followed by Eritrean soldiers.[3][5]

Victims

The “Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation” mentions 200 victims,[1] of which 59 have been identified:[3][5]

Reactions

After months of denial by the Ethiopian authorities that massacres occurred during the Tigray War, a joint investigation by OHCHR and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission was announced in March 2021.[6]

While the Ethiopian government promised that Eritrean troops will be pulled out from Tigray, the Eritrean government denies any participation in warfare in Tigray, let alone in massacres.[7]

References
  1. Annys, S., Vanden Bempt, T., Negash, E., De Sloover, L., Nyssen, J., 2021. Tigray: Atlas of the humanitarian situation
  2. International Policy Digest, 12 April 2021: Is Ethiopia at Risk of Genocide?
  3. TGHAT, A preliminary report on an Adi Hageray Massacre
  4. The World radio (2 April 2021): Counting the victims in Tigray
  5. TGHAT, A compilation of the verified list of civilian victims from different sources
  6. France24, 18 March 2021: UN rights chief agrees to joint Tigray probe Archived 2021-04-22 at the Wayback Machine
  7. DW, 19 March 2021: Fact check: Are other nations involved in the war in Tigray?
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