Articles : Lemkin Institute: Victims Of The Tigray War File The First-Ever Criminal Complaint In Germany

In March 2025, eight survivors of the Tigray War filed a groundbreaking criminal complaint with the German Federal Public Prosecutor alleging that twelve senior Ethiopian and Eritrean government officials and military officers committed war crimes and crimes against humanity during the conflict.

The Tigray War began on November 4, 2020, when “Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered the Ethiopian Defense Forces (EDF) to militarily engage with the Tigray Regional Paramilitary Police and militia loyal to the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) in what he stated was a response to multiple attacks by the Tigray security forces on the EDF North Command base in Mekelle and other military camps in Tigray Region.” A few days later, evidence of ethnic-based targeting and the commission of mass atrocities began to emerge. These crimes include murder, rape, sexual violence including sexual slavery and forced pregnancy, persecution, and other inhumane acts. These violations were predominantly committed against Tigrayan civilians by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces, as well as allied militia groups. The exact numbers of victims are not known, with reports suggesting between 300,000 and 800,000 fatalities, in addition to thousands of victims of other crimes. In November 2022, the Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF signed the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA). While the agreement silenced the bullets, atrocities continue to this day, including conflict-related sexual violence.

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