Human Rights Watch reports systemic persecution and arbitrary detentions of Tigrayans in Western Tigray
via The Reporter Ethiopia8 min read
Human Rights Watch HRW released a report on April 22, 2026, detailing alleged arbitrary detentions and restrictions on movement, employment, and service access for ethnic Tigrayans in Ethiopia's contested Welkait Tegede Setit Humera WTSH zone. HRW stated these conditions have reduced Tigrayans to "effectively second-class citizens" and forced many to flee to displaced persons camps in central Tigray, which currently house 740,000 people. Laetitia Bader, deputy Africa director at HRW, noted that Tigrayans face "severe and dehumanizing restrictions." The report was compiled from testimonies of 40 current residents and 17 individuals who fled since December 2025, along with accounts from aid agency staff, diplomats, and experts. HRW also documented requirements for Tigrayans to obtain permits for travel, often restricted to medical reasons, and their inability to access bank accounts or land due to a lack of identification cards. In response, the Welkait Tegede Setit Humera Zone Administration on April 24, 2026, dismissed HRW's findings as "false allegations" and a "predetermined narrative," suggesting sources might be affiliated with the Tigray People's Liberation Front TPLF. The administration claimed thousands of Tigrayans live peacefully and welcomed the return of displaced persons not involved in criminal acts. The Tigray Independence Party TIP supported HRW's report on April 23, calling it evidence of "relentless and systematic persecution" and asserting that promises of p
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This summary was AI-generated from a story originally published by The Reporter Ethiopia.
The National Bank of Ethiopia NBE has reconfirmed its prohibition on the use, trading, and transfer of virtual assets, including cryptocurrencies, unless explicitly authorized by the NBE. The central bank issued a public notice defining virtual assets as digital representations of value that can be electronically traded, transferred, exchanged, or used for payments, investment, or similar purposes. The ban covers the purchase, sale, exchange, transfer, trading, settlement, and facilitation of transactions involving these assets without specific approval under Ethiopia's legal framework. The NBE clarified that the prohibition extends beyond just cryptocurrencies to all virtual assets. Prohibited activities include exchanging virtual assets for fiat currencies or other virtual assets, transferring them, providing custody or administrative services, and offering financial services related to their issuance or sale. The NBE warned the public against engaging in such transactions due to legal and financial risks, including fraud, scams, cyberattacks, market manipulation, and significant financial losses. This statement reiterates existing legal restrictions and does not announce new regulations or enforcement measures.
Must ReadMadagascar's capital, Antananarivo, has been gripped by a crime wave involving missing children and discovered bodies, leading to public anger. The National Police Directorate-General reported 172 disappearances since January 1, 2026, with 164 still missing and eight children found dead, 119 of these cases in the Analamanga region. This crisis has led to vigilante justice, including the lynching of a woman suspected of attempted abduction. Colonel Randrianirina, leader of the junta, has labeled the murders "terrorism" and alleged a political conspiracy without presenting evidence. His Prime Minister declared a "war" against those seeking to "undermine the Refoundation." The regime deployed 400 security personnel and blocked websites, but the conspiracy narrative lacks verifiable evidence. Civil society, trade unions, and the Catholic Church have criticized the government's response. Legal scholar Omar Abderman Ramadany warned against speculation, while the Union of Lecturers and Researchers urged authorities to take concrete action beyond declarations. The Catholic Bishops' Conference of Madagascar, through Vice-President Bishop Jean Pascal Andriantsoavina, stated they could no longer remain silent about homicides with unknown perpetrators, directly contradicting the government's claims of political conspirators. This religious opposition is part of a broader trend of disillusionment with the junta, which has seen arrests of political dissidents and a focus on consolidating p
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