Dr. Andualem Dagne, a surgeon specializing in general surgery and procedures involving the liver, pancreas, and bile ducts at Bahir Dar University Hospital and Tibebe Ghion Specialized Hospital, was executed by the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. Witnesses reported that Dr. Dagne was removed from his vehicle in the Koshe neighborhood and executed while en route to provide medical services.
This incident occurs amid ongoing conflict between the Ethiopian military and the Amhara Fano militia in the Amhara region. Human Rights Watch has previously reported over 2,000 civilian casualties, sexual violence, and destruction of civilian infrastructure due to the conflict.
Amnesty International and other human rights organizations have expressed concerns about ongoing human rights abuses in Ethiopia, particularly in conflict zones. Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, stated that the international community must call for the release of all arbitrarily detained individuals and stop turning a blind eye to the human rights crisis in Ethiopia.
The execution of Dr. Dagne underscores the severe challenges faced by healthcare professionals in conflict zones, where medical personnel and facilities are often targeted, further exacerbating the humanitarian crisis.
Human rights organizations continue to call for independent investigations into these incidents and urge the Ethiopian government to uphold international humanitarian law and protect civilians, including medical personnel, during the ongoing conflict.
