On the 3rd of March, a new wave of ethnic violence-hit western regions of Ethiopia, resulting in several deaths, including one that was caught on tape, showing armed men burning a man alive in Benishangul-Gumuz near the border with Sudan.
According to online sources, eleven men were killed as a result of that attack, where ten men were shot dead, while the eleventh, Tigrayan one, was set on fire to meet his death, as he was dragged into a pile of the blazing heap, while many of the armed men verbally insulted him.
The video went viral across Ethiopia, resulting in nationwide wide anger and demands of holding the perpetrators accountable, to ensure that such crimes do not take place again.
.@EthioHRC calls accountability for torture, cruel, degrading treatment and extra-judicial killings by government security forces in Benishangul. https://t.co/yD1JkzLJAy
— Daniel Bekele (@DanielBekele) March 13, 2022
In response, Ethiopia's Human Rights Commission condemned the crime as an "extra-judicial killing," saying that its investigations have concluded that some of the +50 perpetrators were members of the Ethiopian forces and other armed groups."
These pictures R from the leaked video of Fano extremists burning a person alive. This is happening across Oromia & other parts of Ethiopia. Will the world continue to support a govt. committing genocide in-broad daylight? @SecBlinken @JosepBorrellF @hrw #HumanRightsForOromo pic.twitter.com/TkYcwer2Bt
— Arfasse Gemeda (@ArfasseGemeda) March 12, 2022
Online, the viral 5-minute video was widely shared by shocked users who demanded "a strong and immediate reaction of no less than accountability" in response to the "cruel incident."