The United Nations Human Rights Council has voted to launch an international investigation into abuses in Ethiopia’s 13-month conflict amid warnings of looming “generalized violence”.
The resolution, brought by the European Union and backed by Western states, passed on Friday despite objections from Ethiopia’s government, which accused the UN body of being used as an “instrument of political pressure” and pledged not to cooperate.
The vote at the 47-member forum in Geneva was 21 states in favor, 15 against including China and Russia, and 11 abstentions.
The African Group of countries had also called for the resolution to be rejected, saying that the proposed investigative mechanism was “counterproductive and likely to exacerbate tensions”. Six African countries, including Senegal and Sudan, broke ranks and abstained.
A three-member expert panel of experts will have a year to “establish the facts and circumstances surrounding the alleged violations and abuses, to collect and preserve evidence, and to identify those responsible”, according to the resolution.
