Zalambessa massacre

The Zalambessa massacre was a mass extrajudicial killing that took place in Zalambessa in the Tigray Region of Ethiopia during the Tigray War, on 13 November 2020, with some aftermath killings up to 19 November.[1][2] Zalambessa is a town at the Eritrean border, woreda Gulomahda, Eastern zone of Tigray.

Zalambessa massacre
Part of Tigray War
Zalambessa is located in Tigray Region
Zalambessa
Zalambessa
Zalambessa is located in Ethiopia
Zalambessa
Zalambessa
Location of Zalambessa in Ethiopia
LocationZalambessa, Tigray Region, Ethiopia
Date13 November 2020
TargetTigrayans
Attack type
Deaths56 civilians, up to 72 civilians[1]
PerpetratorsEthiopia Ethiopian National Defence Force
Eritrea Eritrean Defence Forces

Massacre

The Ethiopian National Defense Force and Eritrean Defence Forces killed dozens of civilians in Zalambessa (Eastern Tigray) on 13 November 2020. It started as indiscriminate shelling on the town, coming from the northern (Eritrean) side during 13 consecutive hours. Then soldiers of both armies went house to house arbitrarily killing civilians. Burials were prohibited and corpses eaten in the streets by hyenas and dogs. Every killing has been carefully documented by some survivors. In one case, which is not at all most extreme, the soldiers entered the house of Haleqa Tewolde Adhanom and his wife Minia Embafrash. They killed both spouses, then occupied the house, and settled there while feasting on the slaughtered goats of the family. They stayed 12 days in the house, eating the 30 goats, and only after that the bodies of the spouses could be buried.[1]

Perpetrators

The inhabitants of Zalambessa interpreted the identity of the perpetrators as Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers.[1][3]

References
  1. Zalambessa Alumni Committee (27 March 2021). "Brief Information on the Crimes Committed and Horrendous Situation Inflicted on the People of Zalambessa and Its Surroundings by the Military Forces of Eritrea and Ethiopia". Tigrai Online.
  2. Associated Press, 15 November 2021: 'You can't even cry loudly': Counting Ethiopia's war dead
  3. AhramOnline, 27 March 2021. 'Don't shoot,' Ethiopian father begged Eritrean soldiers, daughter says Archived 2021-04-10 at the Wayback Machine

Further reading

14.52146°N 39.38360°E / 14.52146; 39.38360

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