Civilians by Abiy Regime Forces

The Amhara Association of America (AAA) has verified that on September 3, 2023, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) carried out a door-to-door massacre in Majete and surrounding area in Efrata(na) Gidim Woreda, North Shewa Zone (Amhara

Region, Ethiopia). AAA confirmed from eyewitnesses and families of the victims that the

ENDF killed at least 33 unarmed civilians and injured an additional 13. In addition,

Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) fighters from the neighboring Dawa Chefa Woreda,

Oromo Special Zone (Amhara Region), who aided ENDF in its conflict with Fano, killed 6 of the slain victims. The OLA militants also stole property from 13 residential homes and 27 cattle. The attack took place following the Fano’s unexpected attack on the ENDF stationed close to the town’s edge. Following Fano’s departure, the ENDF soldiers arrived in the town and the nearby villages with orders to execute anyone they encountered. The ENDF also carried out executions while shelling rural communities, destroying three homes, and killing three civilians, including a kid from a single family. The military first demanded that the families conduct a meeting before allowing them to bury the corpses. Most of the deceased victims’ remains were eventually buried after some residents obliged with the request. The combat had ended when the massacre took place, and the Fano fighters had returned to their prior camp.

Thirty of the victims—thirty dead and thirteen injured—came from Majete town. Twenty of the victims who passed away were from the town’s Wuha Midir neighborhood. When the attackers went door-to-door, they shot 18 of them to death in their houses. Yosef (last name unknown) and his little child were two of the victims who died as a result of being hit by a powerful artillery round fired by the ENDF. The Orthodox Church of Wuha Midir

St. Medhanialem has a cemetery where 14 of the victims’ lifeless remains were interred.

Six of the village’s executed citizens who were Muslims were interred at the town’s

Muslim cemetery. Four people died in the town’s Kobkob neighborhood. Mulualem Gebeyehu and Kebede Demissie were two of the victims. They were both unarmed at the time and did not participate in the earlier combat. They were both members of the Amhara Regional State militias. The ENDF kidnapped and took them away as the killing was taking place, beating them and accusing them of refusing to help in the battle with Fano.

They were all discovered dead the following morning (September 4, 2023) near a ditch canal in the town. While Kebede was on his chest, Mulualem was shot in the abdomen. On September 4, 2023, the four victims were laid to rest in the Kobkob St. Gabriel Orthodox Church cemetery. Additional 4 victims from the community were also executed in this manner, however, it is unknown exactly where they were from. Another 6 villagers were killed and 27 cattle and all the contents of 13 homes were looted by OLA militants dressed as ENDF members in the outlying community of Marmid. All six victims’ bodies were interred at the Marmid St. Abune Aregawi Orthodox Church cemetery. All 13 wounded civilians, including women and children, sustained intentional gunshot wounds. Shewaye Ketema and her young child were shot in their house, making her one of the injured people.

At least three civilians from a single family were killed and three homes were demolished when the ENDF launched heavy artillery shells into the village of Agla, which is about 20-km from Majete town. Three victims died there and one was injured. The shelling claimed the lives of Kemaw Kibret, the owner of one of the burned-down homes, together with his son Yilma Kemaw and another 4-year-old boy, whose name is unknown. The owner of the second home is Aselef Asegid, whose daughter’s right hand was amputated when the shell struck. Farmer Abush Molla owns the third burned-down home.

AAA was able to identify 31 of the victims killed or injured on September 3, 2023 by regime forces in Majete town and surrounding area of Efratana Gidim Woreda (North

Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia).

The massacre of civilians in Majete was also reported by several media outlets and opposition groups. According to a report from Balderas for True Democracy Party, on

September 4, 2023, an ENDF General whose name is not disclosed said,

“When fighting began in Antsokiya, I invited militias from Oromia so that [ENDF] soldiers would not perish in Majete, but I have now withdrawn them.”

The report also indicates when witnesses cited the Oromo militias went door-to-door killing civilians, the general responded:

“We are Abiy’s army, if you fail to cooperate with us, severe measures will be taken. I have ordered the Oromia militias to take those killed and leave, I have apprehended the forces which followed the militias to loot and have returned the looted cattle.”

About Amhara Association of America (AAA)

The Amhara Association of America (AAA) is a non-profit civic organization located in Charlotte, North Carolina that investigates and documents human rights atrocities and repression against Amharas in Ethiopia. AAA seeks to inform U.S. policymakers, international human rights organizations, media, and all Ethiopian stakeholders to pressure Ethiopian leaders to change laws, policies, and practices in Ethiopia so perpetrators are held accountable and victims receive justice. AAA also collaborates with Amhara organizations in the U.S., supports independent Amhara organizations in Ethiopia, and provides humanitarian aid for Amharas impacted due to targeted ethnic attacks. AAA’s funding comes directly from members and supporters; the organization is not affiliated with any Ethiopian or American political or governmental entities.

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