African Commission Holds Landmark Hearing on Ethiopia’s Atrocities in Tigray

UMD Media, May 19, 2025

In a historic move toward justice for survivors of the Tigray conflict, the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights held a landmark oral hearing on May 14, 2025, to examine Ethiopia’s alleged human rights violations in the Tigray region. The hearing marks a major development in the pursuit of accountability for atrocities committed during the 2020–2022 war.

The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights is the premier human rights enforcement mechanism of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights. Created under its Article 30, to promote and protect human rights in Africa, it was established on the 2^nd November 1987 and is based in Banjul, The Gambia.

The Tigray case was filed in October 2022 by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW), the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU), and Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, representing victims of mass killings, sexual violence, forced displacement, famine, and other grave violations. Despite the signing of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) in November 2022, the abuses are reported to have continued, in violation of the African Commission’s provisional measures issued in October 2022.

“This hearing is a vital step toward accountability,” stated a representative of a Tigrayan civil society network. “Your efforts give hope not only to these survivors, but to millions of Tigrayans who have endured unimaginable suffering.”

Donald Deya, CEO of PALU, underscored the hearing’s broader implications:

“This sets the stage—and precedent—for addressing and redressing conflicts using the African Human Rights System.”

Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director of LAW, described the hearing as a bold message to Ethiopia and the global community:

“Atrocities cannot be buried in silence. Survivors of the Tigray conflict have waited too long to be seen, heard, and believed.”

Christel Tham of Debevoise & Plimpton added that while the hearing provided a rare opportunity for Tigrayan voices to be heard, more work lies ahead to ensure meaningful accountability.

This follows recent developments reported by UMD Media regarding another high-profile legal case under universal jurisdiction in Germany, where a criminal complaint was filed in late 2024 by Tigrayan survivors and supported by LAW. That case, which focuses on war crimes and crimes against humanity committed by Ethiopian and Eritrean military and security officials, is currently under preliminary investigation by the German Federal Public Prosecutor. UMD Media noted that this is the first case on Tigray under universal jurisdiction to reach this level in Europe and may serve as a complementary path to justice alongside African legal mechanisms.

The African Commission is expected to issue its decision in due course. Human rights advocates stress that recognition must be followed by justice.

English version of press release

Tigrigna version

Amharic version