The African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) held a historic public hearing on 14 May 2025, examining allegations of widespread and ongoing human rights violations committed by the Ethiopian government during and after the Tigray war. The case, brought forward by Legal Action Worldwide (LAW) and partners, marks a significant milestone in the search for accountability in one of Africa’s deadliest recent conflicts.
Filed in 2022 by LAW, the Pan-African Lawyers Union (PALU), and global law firm Debevoise & Plimpton LLP, the case outlines claims of mass killings, sexual violence, famine, forced displacement, and a prolonged communication blackout in Tigray, even after the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) was signed in November 2022.
“The ACHPR’s willingness to hear this case is a step forward for justice,” said Antonia Mulvey, Executive Director of LAW. “For survivors, this is not just legal recognition — it’s finally being heard after years of silence.”
The Commission had previously issued provisional measures in October 2022, demanding an immediate halt to extrajudicial killings and violence. According to LAW, Ethiopia has yet to comply, and violations persist. A Tigrayan civil society representative told the Commission the hearing offered “hope to millions who have endured unimaginable suffering.”
In parallel efforts, LAW filed a criminal complaint in Germany this March under universal jurisdiction laws, targeting Ethiopian and Eritrean officials for war crimes. This follows similar conclusions by the now-defunct UN commission ICHREE and the U.S. State Department, which in 2023 acknowledged crimes against humanity by all major parties to the war.
PALU CEO Donald Deya emphasized that this conflict stands out: “There have been many crises in Ethiopia, but the war in Tigray has shown the most egregious levels of brutality.”
The African Commission is expected to deliver its decision in the coming months, potentially setting a precedent for regional accountability mechanisms.