Local residents reported that Ethiopian soldiers killed about 24 civilians in the Amhara region during house searches this week, following attacks on them by militia men fighting federal forces for over a month. Spokespersons for the Ethiopian National Defense Forces, the federal government, and Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed have not responded to Reuters' requests for comment on Friday.
Residents told the agency that the victims in the town of Magit included children and the elderly, none of whom were part of the militias. One resident stated that he witnessed soldiers killing his brother, while others said they heard gunfire during the searches and were informed by neighbors about how the killings occurred.
It has not been possible to verify the residents' descriptions of the events through independent sources. The government has not commented on allegations of its forces committing abuses since the outbreak of conflict in Amhara in late July. In a previous conflict in the neighboring Tigray region, it stated that Ethiopian National Defense Forces respect human rights.
Some residents of Magit reported via phone that fighters from the Fano militia attacked a site of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces in the town on Sunday, and fighting between the sides lasted a few hours. They added that the soldiers began the searches after the clashes subsided.
