US and other G7 nations condemn Ethiopia violence in Tigray region

United States and other G7 nations are condemning what they describe as human rights violations and calling for immediate access to Ethiopia’s conflict-ridden Tigray region.

Foreign Affairs Minister Marc Garneau and his counterparts from France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States say in a joint statement they are extremely concerned people are starving as conditions in Ethiopia’s northernmost region worsen.

They strongly condemned reports of mass civilian killings, sexual and gender-based violence, and the forced displacement of thousands of local residents and Eritrean refugees living there.

They say it is “essential that there is an independent, transparent and impartial investigation into the crimes reported,” including holding those responsible for human rights abuses to account.

Ethiopia declared war on the region in November in battle between Prime Minister Ahmed Abiy’s national ruling party and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which had ruled the semi-autonomous region.

The conflict escalated quickly with accusations of war crimes, massacres and rape, many of which have been difficult to confirm because of restricted access to the region by aid workers and journalists.