Recounting the Genocide Stories of Tigray: My experience in the concentration camps in Ethiopia – Part 1

The November 2020 to November 2022 war on Tigray has been described as the worst and bloodiest war of the 21st century. There is ample proof that the atrocities committed by Ethiopia and its allied forces against Tigray and Tigrayans are a crime of genocide.

Though it isn’t enough, the unimaginable atrocities committed by the Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers inside Tigray have been exposed and documented in various ways. I have chosen to share my story to reflect on the horrific atrocities committed by the Ethiopian government and the majority of the Ethiopian population against Tigrayans living in other parts of Ethiopia.

Measures taken by the Ethiopian government against Tigrayans living in various parts of Ethiopia outside Tigray included mass arrests, forced disappearances, torture, confiscation of properties, killings, extortion, and hate speech, among other acts of genocide.

There were hundreds of thousands of Tigrayans who were thrown into concentration camps as waves of mass arrests unfolded, and I am one of them. I was imprisoned in the same prison as the prominent politician Ledetu Ayalew. I was tortured in Bishoftu for about six months. Even years after the incident, it is important to reflect on my memories of the atrocities committed against detained Tigrayans and share what I experienced and witnessed.

Writing from a refugee camp, I am compelled to share this harrowing experience to ensure that the world does not forget the suffering endured by so many Tigrayans. The tales of inhumanity and resilience that I recount serve as a testament to the strength of those who survived and a memorial for those who did not. Through my story, I hope to shed light on the silent suffering of the Tigrayan people and the relentless oppression they faced, highlighting the need for justice and reconciliation. The first of the stories I will write in this weekly series is the story of a couple, a young Tigrayan man and a young Eritrean woman.

An Eritrean and Tigrayan couple imprisoned 

Tewodros and his friends left Addis Ababa for Bishoftu, a town about 60 km southeast of Addis Ababa, to relax a few days before the Irreecha cultural festival in September 2021. Unfortunately, before reaching their destination, they were arrested by the police and imprisoned solely for being Tigrayans.

Among the five people who traveled to Bishoftu from Addis Ababa for leisure were three young men and two young women. One of the women was an Eritrean who had come to Ethiopia from Eritrea through Adigrat after the Ethiopia-Eritrea border reopened. She was born and raised in Asmara and was a government employee.

Starting in June 2021, the Abiy Ahmed government initiated another round of mass arrests targeting Tigrayans. I was taken from my home in Bishoftu by the police on July 7, 2021, and jailed solely because of my Tigrayan identity.

Tewodros and his friends, residents of Addis Ababa, had previously been fortunate to avoid arrest. However, this period was marked by ethnic cleansing, with the Ethiopian government systematically arresting and killing Tigrayans.

The arrest of Tewodros and his friends by the brutal Oromia Command Post was particularly tragic. This unit was tasked with identifying and jailing Tigrayans. As of November 2020, most Tigrayans in Bishoftu had been imprisoned, and some were under house arrest, closely monitored by their non-Tigrayan neighbors and the general population. The Command Post ordered the screening of all passengers entering the city, and Tigrayans were arrested on sight.

During the rigorous screening, Tewodros and his friends were identified as Tigrayans and were immediately detained at the police station known as “District Two,” where other Tigrayans, including myself, were also held. Local regime supporters, who believed that mere arrests were insufficient to degrade and humiliate Tigrayans, conspired with the police and city administration. They beat Tewodros and his friends severely and took them to the commander’s interrogation office. However, the psychological and identity-damaging insults and hate speech were worse than the physical beatings. The investigators and commanders hurled dehumanizing and hateful insults, telling them that Tigrayans should not rejoice but mourn, branding them as devils, cancers, and threats to be eradicated.

The young Eritrean woman, Semhar, was friends with one of the Tigrayans. In the commander-in-chief’s office, they began questioning them and discovered Semhar’s Eritrean identity and her relationship with the Tigrayan.

One commander rebuked, “Are you not ashamed to have an Eritrean girlfriend? You should have kept your head down. Tigrayans associating with Ethiopians and Eritreans is disgraceful.” He continued with his hateful questioning, “How can you, an Eritrean, befriend and love these cursed Tigrayans? Did they deceive you? Tigray has declared its secession from Ethiopia. How could you start dating this Tigrayan? They are cannibals. Your Eritrean brothers and sisters [refugees] in Tigray are being killed, and the remaining refugees have been rescued by the Ethiopian government. Do you really love him? How long have you been together?”

Semhar, demonstrating her commitment to her friend, responded: “I love him. He is my favorite friend. He didn’t fool me.”

The commander retorted, “Shut up. If you end your relationship with him and other Tigrayans, we will release you. Otherwise, you will be arrested together. Tigray is fighting to destroy Eritrea.”

Semhar pleaded with him, “Commander, how can I stop love? Please understand me.”

In complete disregard and in a hateful fury, the commander threatened, “If you stay away from them, you will be released. Otherwise, we will inform the Eritrean government and charge you as an accomplice to these Tigrayans.”

Semhar replied, “Please, Commander, I am an Eritrean refugee. What have I done wrong?”

The commander then asked, “You went to Sawa for military training, right?”

“Yes, like every Eritrean,” Semhar confirmed.

The commander proceeded to level accusations: “You Tigrayans chose this Eritrean girl because she was trained in Sawa. Did you deceive her to carry out your evil plans?”

Defending them, Tewodros explained: “Commander, we came here for fun, not to commit any crime. We didn’t even realize it was Irreecha until now. We are innocent.”

The commander countered: “You came with luxury cars and cash, planning an act of terrorism with this Sawa-trained Eritrean girl. We have evidence and have trapped you.”

He then spoke to Semhar alone, advising and threatening her. “These Tigrayans are waging war to destroy Eritrea and Ethiopia. They are enemies. The Eritrean Embassy will be disappointed with your decision. Your only way out is to expose these Tigrayans as terrorists. Betray them, and we will ensure your safety in Addis Ababa.”

Semhar resisted, standing by Tewodros, “My boyfriend and I know nothing about politics. He loves me, and I love him. These guys are innocent, including my boyfriend, so I can’t do what you’re asking.”

The commander then declared, “So you’re a junta, too? Anyone who befriends a Tigrayan is an enemy of Ethiopia and Eritrea. You will suffer with them in prison. You’re a bandit.”

This dehumanizing ordeal occurred the night they were arrested. After the interrogation, they were taken to the detention compound.

Coincidentally, Tewodros ended up in the same cell as me. It was after midnight, and we were sleeping when the door slammed open, and they were brought in while being beaten. The notoriously anti-Tigrayan and cruel commander, Mustepha, escorted them.

When new Tigrayan prisoners arrived, everyone at the station, from the top leaders to other prisoners from other parts of Ethiopia, despised them and eagerly sought to rob them.

As Tewodros entered, the commander instructed the non-Tigrayan Ethiopian prisoners:

“This new prisoner is junta (Tigrayan). You should rob his money. Think of this as your chance to fight the junta, like on a battlefield.”

Ten days later, the Ethiopian government falsely charged Tewodros and his friends, including the Eritrean woman, and they were brought to court.

It is common for the Ethiopian government, which has openly committed genocide against Tigrayans, to charge Tigrayans with terrorism, attempting to overthrow the constitutionally elected government by force, trying to destroy the Ethiopian population, and other implausible charges.

The charges against them were read aloud, “We found them preparing to commit terrorist acts on Irreecha Day under orders from the junta.” The judge granted the police 14 more days for further investigation, and they were returned to the police station.

Advocating for himself and his friends, Tewodros pleaded: “Honorable Judge, we were arrested while on vacation. These charges are unfounded. We respectfully request to be released on bail.”

In response, the Judge said, “The police have requested 14 more days to investigate. Your bail rights will be considered at the next hearing. You are lucky to be in court; many Tigrayans have disappeared without trial. Be thankful.”

Distraught and desperate, Tewodros and his friends returned to the cell, joining us once again. We advised them to stay strong, suggesting they look for alternative ways out. We explained that the next 14 days would be challenging and urged them to remain calm.