Ambassador Media – July 3, 2025
A new report and escalating violence in the Amhara region are raising concerns over the Ethiopian government’s handling of internal security and human rights protections.
On Monday, June 23, 2017 (E.C.), the local human rights organization Priority for Human Rights released a report stating that a series of arbitrary arrests targeting ethnic Tigrayans have been carried out in Addis Ababa. According to the report, numerous individuals have been detained without formal charges, with police stations in the city reportedly holding large numbers of Tigrayan citizens.
The report described the detentions as “mass arrests based on ethnic identity,” warning that such actions violate constitutional rights and risk inflaming ethnic tensions in the country.
At the same time, deadly violence broke out in the Amhara region. In the town of Mekka, located in the West Gondar zone, 17 farmers were reportedly killed during a confrontation between security forces and armed militants. Additionally, the West Gondar Zone Peace and Security Department announced that 16 drivers were killed when militants attacked a convoy of vehicles on the same day.
The two incidents—mass arrests in the capital and multiple killings in a regional zone—have drawn widespread attention. Observers say the events highlight growing instability and persistent ethnic divisions across Ethiopia, despite government efforts to promote national unity following the recent civil conflict in Tigray.
As of now, federal authorities have not released official statements regarding either the arrests in Addis Ababa or the violence in West Gondar. There are growing calls for transparent investigations and swift measures to prevent further escalation.
