Eritrean soldiers killed 19 civilians in a village at the foot of an internationally celebrated rock-hewn church in Tigray three weeks ago, witnesses, relatives and local residents have claimed, the latest alleged atrocity in the war-torn Ethiopian region. All actors in the conflict have been accused of human rights abuses but Eritrean troops appear to have been responsible for a high proportion. A larger group of Eritrean soldiers who arrived after the shootings reprimanded the scouts responsible for the killings, according to one account. The worst perpetrators were Eritrean troops fighting alongside Ethiopian forces, though all armed actors are accused of committing atrocities. Eritrean troops entered Tigray from its neighbouring state at the beginning of the offensive last year to reinforce the federal government’s forces.

Source: The Guardian June 01, 2021 16:41 UTC