የሚስጥር

Vol.1 No.02.Nov.2023
ዘበኛ
ቅጽ.1 ቁጥር.02.ህዳር. 2016

From Collateral Damage to Mass

Killing: Unfair Usage of UAVs on
Civilians in Ethiopia

Fact Corner: Justice for the Innocent

Chief editor: Belayneh Zelelew 1
የሚስጥር ዘበኛ
From Collateral Damage to Mass Killing: Unfair Usage of UAVs on
Civilians in Ethiopia
By: Belayneh Zelelew Negash
Introduction:
In recent years, the use of
unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), commonly known
as drones, has rapidly in-
creased across the world.
Unmanned aerial vehicles
(UAVs), commonly known
as drones, are aircraft that
are operated without a hu-
man pilot on board. They
can be controlled remote-
ly by a human operator or
autonomously by onboard
computers. UAVs have
gained significant attention
and popularity in recent
years due to their versatility
and wide range of applica-
tions in various industries,
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including military, commer-
cial, and recreational use.
Their ability to gather data,
conduct surveillance, and
perform tasks in hard-to-
reach or dangerous areas
makes them a valuable tool
in many different fields. As
technology continues to ad-
vance, the capabilities and
potential uses of UAVs are
only expected to grow, mak-
ing them an increasingly im-
portant and relevant topic in
today’s world.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
initially developed for mili-
tary purposes, UAVs have
become increasingly preva-
lent in civilian life, aiding in
various fields such as agri-
culture, research, and sur-
veillance. However, the se-
curity implications of these
autonomous flying machines
are becoming more appar-
ent, especially when de-
ployed in conflict zones.
This article aims to shed
light on the unfair usage of
UAVs on civilian populations
in Ethiopia, where collateral
damage has escalated into
indiscriminate mass killings.
The Rising Trend of UAVs:
Unmanned aerial vehicles
have revolutionized modern
warfare, offering advantages
such as surveillance capa-
bilities, targeted assassina-
tions, and reduced risks to
mission personnel. As a re-
sult, many countries, includ-
ing Ethiopia, have incorporat-
ed UAVs into their national
defense strategies. Ethiopia
employs UAVs for surveil-
lance, reconnaissance, and
occasional strikes against
armed opposition groups.
Nonetheless, in the pro-
cess, innocent civilians have
increasingly fallen victim to
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this technology.
Collateral Damage Turns to
Mass Killing:
The term “unmanned aerial
vehicles” (UAVs), common-
ly referred to as drones,
has been a subject of de-
bate and concern, particu-
larly in relation to collateral
damage. Collateral damage
refers to unintentional or in-
cidental damage to persons
or objects that are not the
intended target during a mil-
itary operation or strike.
UAVs can be used for var-
ious purposes, including re-
connaissance, surveillance,
and targeted strikes. While
they offer advantages such
as reduced risk to human
pilots and the ability to op-
erate in dangerous or re-
mote areas, concerns arise
when it comes to minimizing
collateral damage.
Several factors contribute to
the potential for collateral
damage in UAV operations:
1. Precision of Strikes:
UAVs are equipped with
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identification and discrimina-
advanced targeting systems,
tion, especially in complex
and many are capable of
and dynamic environments.
highly precise strikes. How-
5. Ethical and Legal Con-
ever, errors can still occur,
cerns: The use of UAVs in
and the accuracy of strikes
military operations raises
depends on the technology,
ethical and legal questions.
the quality of intelligence,
International humanitarian
and the training of opera-
law and human rights law
tors.
require parties in conflict to
2. Rules of Engagement:
take all feasible precautions
The rules of engagement
to minimize harm to civilians
(ROE) for UAV operations
and civilian objects.
play a crucial role in deter-
Efforts are ongoing to ad-
mining when and how these
dress these concerns and
vehicles are used. Stringent
enhance the precision and
ROE can help minimize the
ethical use of UAVs. Tech-
risk of collateral damage
nological advancements,
by imposing restrictions on
improved intelligence gath-
when and where UAVs can
ering, and adherence to
engage targets.
strict rules of engagement
3. Civilian Presence: The
are crucial elements in mit-
presence of civilians in or
igating the risk of collateral
near the target area in-
damage associated with un-
creases the risk of collateral
manned aerial vehicles. Ad-
damage. It can be challeng-
ditionally, ongoing dialogue
ing to distinguish between
among nations, international
combatants and non-com-
organizations, and advocacy
batants, and mistakes or
groups seeks to establish
miscalculations can lead to
guidelines and norms for
unintended harm.
the responsible use of this
4. Technology Limitations:
technology in armed con-
Despite advancements in
flicts.
technology, UAVs may still
In Ethiopia, the line between
face limitations in target
collateral damage and de-

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liberate attacks on civil-
ians has blurred. Instances
where UAV strikes were in-
itially justified as necessary
to neutralize terrorist threats
have evolved into cases of
mass killings, raising serious
concerns about the legality,
ethics, and human rights
implications of drone usage.
The Controversial Case of
the Tigray and Amhara re-
gions Conflicts:
The use of unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs) on civilians
that results in mass killings
is a grave violation of in-
ternational humanitarian law
and human rights. Deliber-
ate and indiscriminate at-
tacks on civilians are consid-
ered war crimes and crimes
against humanity. Such
actions are condemned by
the international community,
and those responsible may
be held accountable under
international law.
Key considerations in this
context include:
1. War Crimes and Crimes
Against Humanity:
Intentional targeting of civil-
ians with UAVs, leading to
mass killings, constitutes war
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crimes and crimes against
humanity. These acts are
prohibited under internation-
al law, including the Geneva
Conventions and their Addi-
tional Protocols.
2. Accountability and Re-
sponsibility:
Individuals, military person-
nel, and political leaders
responsible for ordering or
carrying out such attacks
can be held accountable
before international tribu-
nals, national courts, or oth-
er mechanisms designed to
address violations of inter-
national law.
3. International Humanitari-
an Law (IHL):
IHL places strict limitations
on the use of force, empha-
sizing the principle of dis-
tinction between combatants
and civilians. Deliberate at-
tacks on civilians, as well as
indiscriminate attacks that
do not distinguish between
military targets and civilians,
are clear violations of IHL.
4. Human Rights Law:
UAV attacks on civilians
also implicate human rights
law, which protects the right
የሚስጥር ዘበኛ
to life, security, and digni-
ty. States are obligated to
respect and protect these
rights, and any violation can
lead to legal consequences.
5. Investigations and Ac-
countability Mechanisms:
In cases of mass killings in-
volving UAVs, there should
be thorough and impartial
investigations to determine
the facts, identify respon-
sible parties, and ensure
accountability. This may in-
volve international bodies,
national authorities, or a
combination of both.
6. Global Condemnation:
The international community
typically condemns such ac-
tions, and nations may face
diplomatic and economic
consequences for their in-
volvement in mass killings
of civilians.
7. Prevention and Mitigation:
Efforts should be made to
prevent such atrocities in
the first place. International
actors, including the United
Nations and human rights
organizations, may work to
mediate conflicts, promote
peace, and encourage ad-
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herence to international le-
gal standards.
It is essential for the interna-
tional community to respond
decisively to such egregious
violations to prevent impu-
nity and uphold the princi-
ples of international law that
protect civilians in times of
armed conflict. The respon-
sibility to protect civilians
is a shared global commit-
ment, and actions that lead
to mass killings, whether
conducted using UAVs or
other means, are universally
condemned.
One of the most concern-
ing situations involving
UAV usage in Ethiopia is
the ongoing conflict in the
Tigray region. Reports indi-
cate that Ethiopian federal
forces, supported by UAVs,
have targeted civilian are-
as, resulting in a significant
number of casualties and
widespread displacement.
These attacks go beyond
the concept of collateral
damage and breach inter-
national humanitarian law,
raising questions about the
accountability and oversight
of drone operations.
According Unit Nation Hu-
man Right commission re-
port entitle Ethiopia: Vio-
lence in Amhara region,
Continued human rights
violations and abuses, in-
cluding arbitrary arrests, in
Ethiopia’s north-western Am-
hara region and other parts
of the country are deeply
concerning. They undermine
any ongoing efforts by the
Government of Ethiopia on
the peace process, includ-
ing transitional justice.
It is imperative that all par-
ties refrain from unlawful
attacks and take all nec-
essary measures to protect
civilians. Security operations
by the Ethiopian Nation-
al Defence Forces (ENDF)
and its allies must be con-
ducted in full compliance
with Ethiopia’s human rights
obligations.
The UN Human Rights Of-
fice is troubled by the dev-
astating impact of drone
strikes and other violence
on the population in the
Amhara region as clashes
continue between the ENDF
and its allies and ethnic Am-
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hara militia known as Fano.
On 6 November, a drone
allegedly launched by Gov-
ernment forces struck a pri-
mary school in the Wadera
district, killing seven people,
including three teachers.
Reports also suggest Fano
militias had occupied some
parts of the campus.
Another drone attack hit a
bus station in Waber town
on 9 November, killing 13
people who were waiting to
board a bus. Fano militias
were reportedly active in the
area and attacking ENDF
camps in Debre Markos and
other smaller towns in East
and West Gojjam zones,
when the drone struck.
Such attacks amount to
arbitrary deprivation of life
under international human
rights law.
In an earlier incident, six
people were killed and 14
others injured when Govern-
ment forces shelled residen-
tial areas in Chuahit town,
in Central Gondar Zone on
4 November. Many of the
የሚስጥር ዘበኛ
victims were killed in their
homes.
In the same context, 21 peo-
ple, including government
and ruling party officials,
were killed by Fano militia
in two separate incidents in
Alem Ber, in South Gondar,
and in Jibayt district, in the
Awi zone, on 9 and 28 Oc-
tober, respectively.
Lack of Transparency and
Accountability:
The lack of transparency
and accountability in the
usage of unmanned aerial
vehicles (UAVs), especially
under directorship, is a sig-
nificant concern that spans
ethical, legal, and geopolit-
ical dimensions. Here are
several key points to con-
sider:
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1. Targeted Killings and Ex-
trajudicial Actions:
In some instances, UAVs
have been employed for
targeted killings. The lack
of transparency in deci-
sion-making processes,
target selection, and the
absence of a clear legal
framework raises concerns
about the potential for ex-
trajudicial actions.
2. Civilian Casualties and
Collateral Damage:
Lack of transparency can
contribute to difficulties in
assessing the accuracy of
strikes and the extent of
civilian casualties. Without
clear information on the
rules of engagement and
the criteria for target selec-
tion, it becomes challenging
to hold parties accountable
for instances of collateral
damage.
3. Legal and Ethical Impli-
cations:
The use of UAVs in military
and intelligence operations
raises legal and ethical
questions. Lack of transpar-
ency can hinder efforts to
evaluate the compliance of
UAV operations with interna-
tional humanitarian law and
human rights standards.
4. Accountability for Mis-
takes:
Transparency is crucial for
holding individuals and or-
ganizations accountable in
cases of mistakes or errors
in UAV operations. Accurate
reporting and investigation
of incidents are essential for
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learning from mistakes and
improving operational proce-
dures.
5. National Security and
Classification:
National security concerns
often lead to the classifica-
tion of information related
to UAV operations. While
some level of secrecy may
be necessary, there is a
delicate balance between
protecting sensitive informa-
tion and ensuring public ac-
countability.
6. Public Trust and Percep-
tion:
Lack of transparency can
erode public trust in govern-
ment actions. It is important
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for democratic societies to have mechanisms in place to
ensure oversight and accountability in the use of military
technologies, including UAVs.
7. International Relations:
The use of UAVs in a secretive manner can strain interna-
tional relations. Lack of transparency may lead to misunder-
standings, accusations, and tensions between nations.
Addressing the lack of transparency and accountability in the
usage of UAVs requires a comprehensive approach:

•Policy and Legal Frameworks: Establish clear policies and

legal frameworks governing the use of UAVs, including mech-
anisms for oversight, accountability, and reporting.
•International Cooperation: Encourage international coopera-
tion and dialogue to establish norms and guidelines for the
responsible use of UAVs.
•Independent Oversight: Implement mechanisms for inde-
pendent oversight and review of UAV operations to ensure
compliance with legal and ethical standards.
•Public Engagement: Foster public engagement and aware-
ness regarding the use of UAVs to ensure that citizens are
informed about government actions and can contribute to the

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democratic debate on mili-
tary and intelligence oper-
ations.
Striking the right balance
between national security
and the principles of trans-
parency and accountability
is crucial for responsible
and ethical use of UAVs un-
der any form of leadership
or directorship.
One of the biggest challeng-
es in addressing the unfair
usage of UAVs in Ethiopia
is the lack of transparency
surrounding these opera-
tions. The government and
military forces have been
tight-lipped about the extent
of their drone programs,
making it difficult to hold
perpetrators accountable for
their actions. This secrecy
exacerbates the plight of
the innocent civilians caught
in the crossfire.
International Implications:
The abuse of unmanned
aerial vehicles (UAVs) can
have significant international
implications, affecting dip-
lomatic relations, regional
stability, and the global per-
ception of the responsible
parties. Here are some key
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international implications as-
sociated with the misuse or
abuse of UAVs:
Diplomatic Tensions: The
misuse of UAVs, especially
if it results in civilian casu-
alties or violations of inter-
national law, can lead to
diplomatic tensions between
the countries involved. The
affected country may lodge
formal complaints, and dip-
lomatic relations may be
strained. Violation of Sover-
eignty: Unauthorized or ag-
gressive use of UAVs in the
airspace of another country
can be perceived as a vi-
olation of sovereignty. This
can escalate tensions and
lead to disputes between
nations.
International Law and Hu-
man Rights Concerns: Viola-
tions of international human-
itarian law and human rights
law through the misuse of
UAVs can attract condem-
nation from the international
community. This can result
in calls for investigations,
sanctions, or other meas-
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ures to hold the responsible parties accountable.

Global Perception and Reputation: The misuse of UAVs can
tarnish the global perception and reputation of the country or
entity responsible. Negative publicity, especially if it involves
civilian casualties or human rights abuses, can have lasting
effects on a nation’s standing in the international community.
Arms Control and Non-Proliferation: The misuse of armed
UAVs may prompt discussions on the need for internation-
al agreements and arms control measures to regulate the
development, production, and use of such technology. The
international community may seek to prevent the proliferation
of armed UAVs and establish norms for responsible use.
United Nations Involvement: The United Nations (UN) may
become involved in cases where the misuse of UAVs results
in international disputes, human rights violations, or threats
to peace and security. The UN may play a role in mediating
conflicts, conducting investigations, or implementing sanctions.
Regional Stability: Misuse of UAVs in conflict zones can
destabilize regions and contribute to ongoing conflicts. It may
also hinder diplomatic efforts to achieve peace and resolution
in affected areas.

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Global Security Concerns: The proliferation and potential mis-
use of UAV technology raise broader global security con-
cerns. There may be calls for international cooperation to
establish norms and guidelines for the responsible use of
UAVs to prevent unintended consequences.

Addressing the international implications of the abuse of

UAVs requires collaborative efforts, adherence to international
law, and diplomatic initiatives. It underscores the importance
of responsible and transparent use of technology in a man-
ner consistent with established legal and ethical standards to
maintain international peace and security.
The international community cannot turn a blind eye to the
unfair usage of UAVs on civilian populations in Ethiopia.
The Ethiopian government must be held accountable for its
actions and be urged to implement stricter regulations on
drone operations to prevent further mass killings. Additionally,
international organizations and human rights groups should
conduct investigations and shed light on the extent of civilian
casualties caused by these UAV attacks.

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Conclusion:

The unfair usage of UAVs on civilians in Ethiopia poses a

significant threat to human rights and international law. What
initially started as collateral damage resulting from drone
operations has transcended into mass killings, indicating a
dire need for stricter regulations and greater accountability.
Unless action is taken promptly, innocent lives will continue
to be lost, and the unethical use of technology will perpetuate
suffering in conflict-stricken regions such as Ethiopia.

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 Fact Corner

“In the picture, the young man standing behind Bini (a man
with blue tie) is named John. He was a brave and moral-
ly commendable commando, ultimately becoming the Prime
Minister’s escort. During the June 16 bomb blast, he was
one of the escorts who swiftly took the Prime Minister by the
hand and shielded him from the platform. This moment was
captured in a picture (available on YouTube).
Recently, I came across news circulating on social media, re-
porting the tragic deaths of heroic comrades, including John,
who worked with us. Upon learning this, I felt a profound
sense of sorrow. I do not intend to apportion blame for these
deaths, but it grieves me deeply to witness the senseless
massacre of innocent people in their ancestral villages and
the targeted killings of citizens based on their identities, even
in urban areas.

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It is important to note that Jonina and Tagai Godou were

arrested and subsequently killed in connection with the dev-
astating conflict in northern Ethiopia. Following the outbreak
of the war, it was reported that they were disarmed and
detained for a period before being transferred to a military
camp in Arba Minch, where they met their tragic fate. The
circumstances surrounding their deaths have left me ques-
tioning why such atrocities occurred.

As the war unfolded, the leaders orchestrating events from

both sides continued to live. They assured us that the con-
flict would end, yet their political maneuvers resulted in the
tragedy of numerous young individuals like Johnnys, Tolesas,
Donsas, and countless others.

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To this day, many young people in Oromia, Amhara, and
various regions across the country continue to face hardship
and untimely demise. These youths are merely pawns for
calculating politicians, their lives treated as expendable com-
modities. As it has been said, ‘for a parent - a beloved son,
for a child - an irreplaceable father, and for a wife - the best
husband, but for the nation.”

Justice for the innocent

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