Eritrean troops are accused of killing hundreds of civilians, including children, in a brutal November massacre in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, according to a detailed report by Human Rights Watch (HRW). The findings, corroborated by an earlier Amnesty International investigation, describe a systematic slaughter in the town of Axum, intensifying global alarm over alleged atrocities committed by Eritrean forces in the ongoing Tigray conflict.
The violence erupted following Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s announcement of military operations against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the region’s former ruling party, in early November. Abiy justified the campaign as a response to TPLF attacks on federal army bases. On November 20, Eritrean and Ethiopian forces entered Axum after shelling that indiscriminately killed civilians, HRW reported.
While Ethiopian troops largely stood by, Eritrean soldiers engaged in widespread looting and violence. The situation escalated on November 28 when Tigrayan militia and some residents attacked Eritrean soldiers, prompting a vicious retaliation. Eritrean forces reportedly went house-to-house, targeting and executing young men and boys. HRW estimates over 200 civilians were killed on November 28–29 alone, though an exact death toll remains unclear.
This is not an isolated incident. A separate massacre in the Tigray village of Dengolat around the same time left 164 civilians dead, according to local church officials cited by AFP. Despite these reports, both Ethiopia’s government in Addis Ababa and Eritrea’s in Asmara deny Eritrean involvement in Tigray. However, mounting evidence has led to accusations of possible war crimes and crimes against humanity, with the United Nations Security Council holding closed-door discussions on the conflict, though no official statement followed.
The international community is pressing for accountability. Michelle Bachelet, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, has called for Ethiopia to allow independent investigators access to Tigray to probe allegations of murders and sexual violence that could constitute war crimes. HRW echoed this demand, urging an urgent UN-led investigation into the atrocities. The conflict has already claimed thousands of lives and displaced hundreds of thousands in a region heavily reliant on food aid even before the violence began, according to UN estimates.
The Tigray crisis has drawn global scrutiny, with concerns over the humanitarian toll and the role of foreign forces. The reported inaction of Ethiopian troops during the Axum massacre raises questions about complicity, while Eritrea’s alleged involvement complicates regional dynamics. Advocates for human rights are calling for swift action to ensure justice and protect civilians caught in the crossfire of this devastating conflict.
