441-00705 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada is deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in northern Ethiopia and continues to press for a cessation of hostilities, a negotiated political resolution to the conflict, and inclusive national dialogue to address the conflict’s root causes. Canada continues to register its alarm over violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law in northern Ethiopia and calls on all parties to stop the ongoing violations, to support accountability processes, and to ensure justice for victims and survivors.

The Government of Canada continues to call upon all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligation to allow and to facilitate safe rapid and unimpeded humanitarian access to those in need throughout the conflict-affected areas. Canada has consistently called for an immediate end to the violations of international humanitarian law and human rights violations and abuses and continues to press parties to uphold their commitments under international human rights and humanitarian law. Canada provides funding for humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, based on need. To date in 2022, Canada has provided $63.5 million in humanitarian assistance to address the needs of people affected by the crisis across Ethiopia, including in Tigray. This funding to UN agencies, the Red Cross, and NGOs is helping to provide food, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical healthcare, access to safe water and sanitation, emergency shelter and essential household items, and protection services to populations affected by drought, conflict, and insecurity.

The promotion and protection of human rights are an integral part of Canada’s foreign policy. Along with partners in the international community, Canada is shocked and dismayed by the grave violations of human rights law and of international humanitarian law taking place in Ethiopia. The Government of Canada is committed to standing up for human rights and striving for a world where the rights and freedoms of all people are protected and respected. On September 22, 2022, officials of the Government of Canada spoke at the UNHRC and denounced the resumption of hostilities in northern Ethiopia, urged all parties to cease violence immediately, respect human rights and implement accountability measures, and called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean Defence Forces.

Canada was a major funder, with a contribution of $600,000, to the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) joint investigation into the allegations of human rights violations and abuses, and serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by parties to the conflict. Canada continues to urge meaningful action towards the implementation of the OHCHR-EHRC report’s recommendations and to press the Government of Ethiopia to deliver on its commitments in this respect, including credible and transparent investigations to hold perpetrators accountable. Canada also encourages Ethiopia to collaborate with credible and independent international investigations, such as the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia (ICHREE).

Canada found the conclusions of ICHREE’s September 19, 2022 report deeply troubling. The report found reasonable grounds to believe that violations of international humanitarian law- including extrajudicial killings, rape, sexual violence, and starvation of the civilian population as a method of warfare – have been committed in Ethiopia since November 2020. Canada expressed its deep concern through a tweet issued by the Global Affairs Canada corporate account on September 22, 2022.

Canada is alarmed by the escalation of hostilities which began in August 2022, including the impact on civilians across northern Ethiopia. Canadian officials have conveyed this to the Government of Ethiopia, including in representations to the Ethiopian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Chief Justice, and parliamentarians. On August 26, 2022, the Government of Canada expressed its deep concern about the resumption of hostilities in northern Ethiopia through a tweet issued by the Global Affairs Canada corporate account, and called for parties to enter negotiations in good faith and provide unimpeded humanitarian access. In a statement on Ethiopia to the UNHRC on September 22, 2022, Canada deplored the resumption of hostilities. In its engagement with all parties to the conflict, Canada has reiterated its strong and ongoing commitment to supporting a peaceful resolution to the conflict, including African Union-led negotiations toward a peace agreement.

The Government of Canada responded quickly to the conflict in northern Ethiopia by committing over $3.5 million in early 2021, to peace and stabilization programming, that focuses on increasing conflict resolution capacity and supporting conflict-sensitive, inclusive dialogue, with a particular focus on women.

Since November 2021, the Prime Minister has spoken six times with Prime Minister Abiy to discuss the developments in northern Ethiopia, the importance of working toward a peaceful resolution of the conflict, and the need to contribute to a more united, peaceful, and prosperous Ethiopia. This includes an immediate cessation of hostilities, a political resolution, and an inclusive national dialogue process. The Prime Minister has underscored the importance of ensuring unhindered access to, and delivery of, humanitarian assistance to those affected by the conflict and has raised Canada’s concerns about human rights, including reports of discrimination against, and targeting of, ethnic Tigrayans and other minorities.

The Government of Canada has consistently called for Eritrea’s immediate and full withdrawal from Ethiopia, including through public joint statements with likeminded countries. Canada’s former Ambassador to Sudan, who represents Canada to Eritrea, engaged with Eritrean officials in 2021, urging them to withdraw the Eritrean Defense Forces from northern Ethiopia. On September 20, 2022, a tweet issued from the Global Affairs Canada corporate account deplored the movement of Eritrean Defence Forces in northern Ethiopia and condemned the escalation of hostilities.

Canada is deeply concerned for civilians and how they are being impacted by the renewed and escalating violence in northern Ethiopia. Sanctions are an important complement to Canada’s foreign policy tools, which include dialogue, capacity building, advocacy, multilateral engagement, and other diplomatic actions. Canada's United Nations Act enables the Canadian government to give effect to decisions passed by the United Nations Security Council. Canada imposed sanctions on Eritrea from April 2010 to July 2020, following a UN Security Council decision to terminate sanctions measures. The United Nations does not currently impose any sanctions against Eritrea or Ethiopia, nor does Canada.

Canada is judicious in its approach about when it chooses to deploy sanctions and is committed to their effective and coordinated use, when appropriate. Canada reviews all of its policy options continuously and tailors its responses to the specifics of each unique situation. Canada will continue to work closely with like-minded governments in considering a broad range of response options related to the ongoing situation in northern Ethiopia. Canada continues to deploy diplomatic and political tools aimed at a peaceful resolution to the conflict.

There is broad consensus that serious violations of human rights and international humanitarian law by all parties took place in Tigray and other conflict-affected areas of Ethiopia, some of which may amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity, as outlined in the report of the Ethiopia Human Rights Commission and the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Canada continues to press the Government of Ethiopia to investigate and prosecute those who have committed these violations and abuses, and we will continue to work through multilateral mechanisms to support accountability measures. The legal determination of whether a situation constitutes genocide must be done by a competent court, bearing in mind that the legal definition of genocide is precise and complex, as outlined in international treaties such as the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide and the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court.