441-00894 (Foreign affairs)

The Government of Canada welcomed the permanent cessation of hostilities agreement signed between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on November 2, 2022, as a significant step toward peace and security and noted the importance of the commitment to an immediate and permanent ceasefire. Following the agreement, Canada commended all parties involved in the African-led peace process, including the African Union, offered Canadian support for implementation, and called on all parties to prioritize the protection of civilians and humanitarian needs. Canada is ready to support the signatories and all Ethiopians as they take concrete steps toward a comprehensive and lasting peace, inclusive national dialogue and reconciliation.

The Government of Canada continues to call upon all parties to the conflict to fulfill their obligation to allow and 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, including as a signatory to two resolutions at the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) in 2021, and continues to press parties to uphold their commitments under international human rights and humanitarian law. Canada continues to provide funding for humanitarian assistance in Ethiopia, based on need. To date in 2022, Canada has provided more than $65 million in humanitarian assistance funding to UN agencies, the ICRC, and NGOs to assist people affected by conflict, insecurity, and drought in Ethiopia. This funding is helping to provide food, treatment for acute malnutrition and other critical health care, access to safe water and sanitation, emergency shelter and essential household items, and protection services to those in need.

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.

Canada continues to press the Government of Ethiopia for justice and accountability for victims and survivors of human rights violations and abuses resulting from the conflict in northern Ethiopia. Canada provided $600,000 in support of the joint UN-Ethiopian Human Rights Council investigation to this effect and has encouraged the Government of Ethiopia to cooperate with independent investigative mechanisms. The November 2, 2022, cessation of hostilities agreement commits to the establishment of a transitional justice policy framework to ensure accountability, truth, and reconciliation, developed with inputs from all stakeholders and the public through consultations.

Canada continues to urge meaningful action toward the implementation of Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission’s (EHRC) report’s recommendations drawn from a joint investigation into the allegation of human rights violations and abuses, and serious violations of international humanitarian law committed by parties to the conflict; 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).

A report released on September 19, 2022 by the UNHRC-OHCHR mandated the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia concluded that there are reasonable grounds to believe that human rights violations have been committed by all parties in northern Ethiopia. Canada was deeply troubled by the findings of the report and called upon all parties to accept the findings and commit to justice for victims and survivors.

Since November 2021, the Prime Minister has spoken seven 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 included 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 for, 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.

Canada has also repeatedly and publicly called for the swift withdrawal of Eritrean forces from northern Ethiopia, including through public joint statements with likeminded countries. On September 22, 2022, officials of the Government of Canada spoke at the OHCHR 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’s former Ambassador to Sudan, who represents Canada to Eritrea, engaged with Eritrean officials in 2021, calling on them to withdraw 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 supports efforts underway in Ethiopia to implement social and economic reforms, including efforts to strengthen the capacity to uphold fundamental freedoms and foster inclusive dialogue. Specifically, the Government of Canada has funded programs which seek to strengthen Ethiopia’s democratic institutions and the conduct of free and fair elections, with a special focus on ensuring the participation of women, youth and ethnic groups, in the electoral process.

Canada’s support for elections has included programming to support technical expertise, capacity building, and election observation. In February 2020, the Government of Canada contributed $1 million to help strengthen the capacity of the National Election Board of Ethiopia to conduct credible, inclusive and peaceful elections. In the 2021-2022 fiscal year, Canada’s Embassy in Ethiopia funded projects that supported marginalized groups’ outreach and advocacy with electoral candidates before the polls and conducted assessments of the pre-election and post-election periods from a human rights perspective.