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Collective Punishment

War Crimes and Crimes against Humanity in the Ogaden area of Ethiopia’s Somali Region

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Map 1: Ethiopia and Somali Regional State

Map 2: Conflict-Affected Zones of Somali Regional State

Summary

Methodology

Note on Terminology

Part 1: Background

Political and Historical Context

The People and the Area

The Ogaden and Somali Nationalism in the Colonial Era

The Role of Somalia and Insurgency Movements in the 1960s and 1970s

The Somali-Ethiopian War over the Ogaden, 1977-78

Mengistu’s “Secret Wars” in Southeast Ethiopia, 1978-84

The 1991 Overthrow of Mengistu and the Collapse of Somalia

Ethnic Federalism and the Somali Region under the EPRDF

Implementing Federal Policy: Structures of Control

Renewed Insurgency and Conflict in Somali Region

The Somalia and Eritrea Connections

Escalation in 2007

Part 2: Violations by the Ethiopian Government

Forced Displacement and Destruction of Villages

Cases of Forced Evacuation, Killings, and Village Burnings

Reprisal Killings

Rape and Other Sexual Violence

Rape of Women in Military Custody

Sexual Violence against Women Collecting Wood and Water

Arbitrary Detention, Abuse and Torture, and Execution of Detainees

Arbitrary Arrest and Detention

Torture and Beatings

Extrajudicial Executions at Military Bases

Former Detainees and Collective Punishment

Forced Recruitment of Pro-Government Militias

“Economic war”: Confiscation of Livestock, the Trade Embargo, and Other Restrictions

Effects of the Trade Embargo

Restrictions on Movement, Herding, and Access to Water Sources

Restrictions on Humanitarian Assistance

The Failure of Judicial Protection and the Institutionalization of Collective Punishment

Enforcing the Law

Authorizing Collective Punishment

Part 3: Abuses by the Ogaden National Liberation Front

Summary Executions and Attacks on Civilians by the ONLF

Attacks on Non-Ogaadeeni Clans and Property

Part 4: Applicable Legal Standards

Summary Executions and Other Mistreatment of Persons in Custody

Rape and Other Sexual Violence

Attacks on Civilians and Civilian Objects

Forced Displacement

Collective Punishment and Reprisals

Individual Criminal Responsibility

Part 5: Responses to Allegations of Human Rights Violations

The Ethiopian Government’s Response

The International Response: A Wider Silence

Recommendations

To the federal government of Ethiopia

To the regional government of Somali Regional State

To the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF)

To foreign governments with influence, including the US, UK, China, and European Union

To the United Nations Security Council

To the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping Operations

To oil companies operating in Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

June 2008 ISBN: 1-56432-322-6

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