Incident Date
9 - 10 November 2020
Location
May Kadra, May Kadra, May Kadra
Western, Tigray
Civilians reported killed
205 - 1200
(63 of which who are named)
Reported Perpetrator
Ethiopian National Defence Force, Tigray Defence Force, Amhara Special Forces or Fano Militia
Hundreds of civilians killed by Tigray militia and Amhara militia.
Massacre of locals and seasonal labourers. Perpetrators were forces loyal to TPLF (according to Amnesty, EHRC, Reuters) and ENDF and Amhara militia (according to Reuters, AP and several other media). After Ethiopian army and Amhara militia entered the town on the morning of November 10, Amhara Media Coorporation showed pictures and video of what appeared to be the aftermath of a massacre. They stated that at least 500 Amhara day laborers were killed in an attack. Amnesty International verified the images and spoke to witnesses who traveled with the ENDF who confirmed that mainly Amahra day laborers were killed with knives or machetes by Tigray Special Police and other TPLF members. According to a preliminary investigation conducted by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, the attack started in the afternoon of 9 November. In the morning the local police together with youth militia went house to house and seperated non-Tigrayans and Tigrayans. They detained more than 60 people. In the afternoon they started attacking and killing the local Amhara residents and daylaborers. At least 600 people were killed according to witnesses, 2 weeks after the attack there were still numerous bodies lying in the streets and on the outskirts of the town, waiting to be buried. Another Ethiopian Human rights organisation (Ethiopian Human Rights Coucil) comes to the same conclusions as the EHRC, but puts the number of civilian casualties at over 1100. In reports by AP News, Al Jazeera and NPR refugees residing in Sudan are saying that Amhara militia started killing Tigrayans in the town, with some claiming it started in the morning of 9 November. Other refugees confirmed the findings of Amnesty and EHCR. Amnesty itself states that additional information points indeed to killings of civilians by both sides. An investigative report by Reuters came to the conclusion that the initial attacks were done by Tigray alligned forces with retaliatory killings done by Amhara miliitia. The Office of the Attorney General of Ethiopia released a report that stated that 229 civilians were killed in the attacks of 9 November. The Joint Investigation of OHCHR and EHRC found that on 9 and 10 November at least 200 Amhara residents were killed and 5 Tigray residents in retilation. An additional investigation by Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch states that the killings on 9 November were an accumulation of years of desputes combined with the added tension of approaching war and the rumours of killings and looting by federal soldiers and accompanying Amhara militia. It puts the number of people killed by Tigrayan civilians on 229 (at least) (The Amhara government states in the report that over 1600 Amhara were killed that day). Later in the evening and the following day retaliatory killings started with dozens, if not hundreds, more people being killed by Amhara civilians and militia aided by Ethiopian soldiers.
Gidey Birhane , 40, male
Tesfay Mitiku , 60, male
Maru Aradom , 52, male
Abadi Milashu , 70, male
Gebru Hailu , 73, male
Gebreselassie , 70, male
Tasew Embaye , 73, male
Kahsay , unknown, male
Kalayou Kinfu , 55, male
Niguse Arefayne , 72, male
Aregay Weldu , 82, male
Hailu Gebreyesus , 75, male
Tesfamichael , 85, male
Mehari Niguse , 47, male
Fano Kebede , 86, male
Guush Likedimos , 46, male
Amare Beyene , 75, male
Wedajo Gebru , 70, male
Lijalem Dade , 55, male
Assefa Kidane , 70, male
Haftu , 80, male
Hailay Weldu , unknown, male
Weldekiros , unknown, male
Desta Molla , 40, male
Gebremedhin Hagos , unknown, male
Hagazi Desta , 75(?), male
Kiros Tieumay , 52, male
Mehari Gezu , 65, male
Hadush Weldesenbet , unknown, male
Melaku Girmay , 30, male
Abadi Abraha , 80, male
Berhe Meles , 80, male
Birhanu Tefera , 73, male
Berhe Redae , 79, male
Niguse Meresa , 76, male
Hadgu Berhe , unknown, male
Aregawi Hagos , unknown, male
Gebretsadik Meles , 45, male
Hayelom Agazi , 65, male
Lilay Meresa , unknown, male
Melaku Arse , 60, male
Weldu Tsegay , 65, male
Wife of Haftu , unknown, female
Adane Guush , unknown, male
Guush Mola , unknown, male
Dejen Wase , 43, male
Abiyu Tsegaye , unknown, male
Tabaka Zewda , unknown, male
Shagri , unknown, male
Yohannes , unknown, male
Ale Abera , unknown, male
Brother of Biniyam , unknown, male
Halefom , unknown, male
Gerie , unknown, male