In October 2023, eerie tension enveloped the historic town of Lalibela. Young people who were suspected of supporting the Fano militia group were arrested in large numbers and transported to Kombolcha town, situated 319 km away from Lalibela.

The rebel forces have encircled the entire town, while the government forces have deployed heavy weaponry in standby mode, ready for action.

Starting from Saturday, November 4, 2023, the Fano rebel forces started attacking the town. Since July, the town has been one of the focal points for intense confrontations between the two groups. By the end of July, the town briefly fell under the control of the Fano group.

On November 8 and 9, 2023, Lalibela experienced harrowing days. Prolonged clashes between the two opposing forces persisted, culminating in Fano taking control of the town on Wednesday, only to relinquish it the following day.

Two eyewitnesses described the events in the town over the two days as involving “abuse, violence, and killings.”

Following the seizure of the town on November 8 around 2:00 p.m., Fano forces targeted and killed approximately 10 police and government militia members who were in hiding in Bete Abba Libanos, one of Lalibela’s 11 churches. Among those taken from the church and subsequently killed, the Lasta district police chief was among them, according to witnesses. Following these events, the religious leaders and the community condemned the killings. Additionally, five other militia members who were hidden in people’s homes were also reported to have been killed.

As the Fano militants moved around the area, they had previously cautioned the local police and militias, stating, “Let’s refrain from destroying one another,” saying that their primary focus was the army.

On November 10, the government forces struck again, forcing the Fano fighters to leave the town. However, according to residents, upon retaking Lalibela, the government forces engaged in “revenge-motivated” killings of innocent civilians. Families and eyewitnesses reported that following the government forces’ recapture of the town, there were unprecedented incidents of arrests, looting, beatings, and killings involving individuals who were not involved in the fighting.

A mother, whose husband and son were “executed” by the security forces, chose not to speak to the media due to fears of potential retaliation from the government. The visibly distraught mother expressed her choice not to speak out of fear, citing the incidents of two individuals in the town who reportedly faced fatal consequences after speaking to the media.

“My four-year-old daughter is asking when her dad will be coming home”.

Abebe, a daily laborer, was among the civilians killed by government forces in Lalibela. Abebe’s wife, who requested anonymity for her safety, is a mother of two. She recounted that her husband had stepped out to fetch their four-year-old son when security forces detained him near their house. She later heard that her husband was shot dead with his hands tied behind his back at a nearby site. The body was inadequately buried and was returned to the family after being retrieved from the shallow burial pits as “a gesture of goodwill”. His funeral ceremony was held on the same day.

Their four-year-old daughter consistently asks about her father’s return date. “It’s her questions that weigh on me the most. Every morning, she’s asking when he’s coming back.”

Another town resident reported that four individuals, including two of his close relatives, had been killed by the security forces. “They were forcibly taken from their homes and accused of supporting Fano, with claims like “You are Fano, you support Fano.” Two of the victims, who were brothers, are related to me,” he said.

Another Lalibela resident, choosing to remain anonymous, stated that an estimated 10 to 15 innocent individuals were killed by the government forces. He emphasized that these individuals were not associated with the Fano group in any way. “If someone is caught talking on the phone, they might be accused of providing information,” the resident said.

“They brought men, old or young, and instructed them to kneel on the cobblestone, warning them not to move. Even after the soldiers left, they stayed there for hours and hours until dusk arrived.”

Another eyewitness stated that the soldiers appeared “enraged” and were unleashing their anger on the people, subjecting them to merciless beatings.

Another witness recounted that a soldier accused a priest of saying, “It was because of him that our men were killed yesterday,” resulting in the severe beating of the priest and two church guards, in retaliation for the police officers and militias who were taken from the church and executed by Fano militants.

“The priest was hit on one of his ears, causing severe swelling. Until recently, blood continued to bleed from his ears,” the witness added.

Residents also reported incidents of looting in the town. “They parked their vehicles outside the establishments, looted jewelry stores, supermarkets, and boutiques. They pointed fingers at each other, claiming it was the militia members, then the policemen, and then the defense force members—but fundamentally, they were all government forces,” one town resident said.

Justice, Accountability

The families of those who were unjustly killed without any justifiable reason are seeking acknowledgment and resolution from the government regarding the events. “We demand accountability for these unacceptable actions by the government. I hope to see those who committed these crimes brought to justice and tried by an impartial entity,” stated one resident of the town.

“When a government body acts like bandits, inflicting such suffering upon us, human rights defenders must step in to investigate. We want those involved to be held accountable. It may take time, but accountability is an essential course of action,” he added.

When contacted by the BBC to react regarding the killings and human rights violations in Lalibela, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stated that it was “monitoring and investigating” the matter.

“We are closely examining the matter, conducting investigations, and closely monitoring new developments in coordination with relevant government bodies,” the EHRC commented.

The BBC’s efforts to get a comment from the government about the reported killings in Lalibela were not fruitful.

(A report by the BBC Amharic, published on the news website on December 27, 2023. The text was translated from the original text, Amharic into English by Ismaël MOUSSA. )