Update on a campaign of massacres against ethnic Amhara civilians by the Oromia Special Force (OSF)

(in Kiremu town in East Wollega Zone of Ethiopia’s Oromia Region)

‘Show us if you know or see neftegnas, we must eliminate them’

Executive Summary

The Amhara Association of America (AAA) has verified that between November 18 and 20, 2022, the Oromia Special Force (OSF) have killed at least 25 ethnic Amhara civilians, injured 5 others, destroyed and looted Amharas’ properties, and caused displacement of thousands in Kiremu town (district) of East Wollega Zone (Oromia Region, Ethiopia). 1 AAA has also received reports of direct involvement of government officials in the attacks, including killings led by the Kiremu town administrator on November 20, 2022.

The tension between OSF and local Amharas mounted since October 16th, 2022 when the woreda administration started releasing hundreds of ethnic Oromo who were detained because they were proven to be members or supporters/collaborators of the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The tension escalated after the OSF’s plans to transfer Amharas who were unjustly detained for months under suspicions of organizing Amharas to defend against attacks from the OLA, became known. These arbitrarily detained Amharas not only face high risk of mistreatment but face the possibility of mass execution, which the OSF has undertaken in the past.