On July 15, 2025, Doctors Without Borders (Doctors sans frontières) issued a scathing critique of the Ethiopian government's handling of the investigation into the 2021 murders of three of its aid workers in the Tigray region. The organization released a detailed report indicating that Ethiopian military personnel may have been directly involved in the killings. This marks another chapter in a prolonged struggle for accountability regarding the violence against humanitarian teams in conflict zones.
The report was unveiled in Nairobi, and Raquel Ayora, a senior representative from Doctors Without Borders, starkly declared, "Our team was executed." She emphasized that the nature of the act made it clear that the perpetrators were aware they were targeting civilians. The investigation echoes findings from a New York Times report in 2022, which identified an Ethiopian military officer who allegedly ordered the execution of the aid workers before the incident occurred.
The documents reveal that hostility from Ethiopian forces toward foreign aid organizations was palpable in the days leading to the slayings. Although the Ethiopian government has repeatedly stated that an investigation was in progress, the families of the deceased have yet to receive meaningful updates or credible answers regarding the circumstances surrounding their loved ones' deaths.
Humanitarian groups have urged the Ethiopian government to take serious actions to ensure accountability and protect those who risk their lives to help others. As the international community closely monitors the outcome, pressure mounts on the Ethiopian authorities to provide clarity and justice for the slain aid workers.
