MSF Investigation Reveals Targeted Executions in Conflict Zone
A disturbing report by Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has revealed that three of its humanitarian workers were executed by Ethiopian government forces during the height of the Tigray conflict in June 2021. The victims, comprising a Spanish national and two Ethiopian staff members, were on a medical mission in central Tigray when they were targeted and killed.
Aid Workers Identified and Targeted Despite Safety Protocols
The aid group stated that the killings were not accidental or crossfire-related but instead deliberate acts carried out at close range. The workers, who were part of a clearly marked MSF vehicle, were on an approved humanitarian route that had been shared with local military and armed groups in advance. Despite following all protocol and wearing identifiable MSF gear, they were shot multiple times and left dead in separate locations near their vehicle, which was found burned and riddled with bullet holes.
Government Silence After Four Years Prompts Public Disclosure
MSF decided to publish its independent investigation findings after spending four years seeking answers from the Ethiopian government. Throughout this period, the organization held over 20 meetings with authorities but received no credible explanation or written response. In 2022, MSF was verbally informed by Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice that its own internal inquiry found no presence of military forces in the area. However, the government refused to provide documentation to support this claim, prompting MSF to move forward with disclosing its evidence.
Remembering the Victims and Their Service
The three victims were María Hernández Matas, a Spanish humanitarian who had served in Tigray before the war; Yohannes Halefom Reda, an experienced field coordinator; and Tedros Gebremariam, a local driver who had just become a father. Tedros’ daughter was later named Maria in honor of his Spanish colleague.
Evidence Places Ethiopian Soldiers at the Scene
The killings occurred on the road between Abi Adi and Yech’illa in central Tigray. According to MSF, satellite images, eyewitness accounts, and public data on troop movements confirm that Ethiopian soldiers were present at the precise location where the incident took place. Witnesses reported that a commander gave an order to intercept the MSF vehicle after being alerted to its approach. Shortly afterward, the three staff members were killed and the vehicle set ablaze.
Tigray War Left a Devastating Humanitarian Toll
The Tigray conflict began in 2020 following a political fallout between Ethiopia’s federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The war escalated rapidly, drawing in Eritrean troops and resulting in a devastating humanitarian crisis. In 2022, a peace agreement brokered by the African Union brought an official end to hostilities, but not before an estimated 600,000 people died due to violence, hunger, and the collapse of healthcare services.
MSF Calls for Accountability and International Attention
MSF emphasized that the targeted killing of aid workers during this period reflects the growing dangers humanitarian organizations face in global conflict zones. The group highlighted the need for accountability and justice, especially as attacks on healthcare workers and non-governmental organizations become increasingly common in war-affected regions.
Despite years of dialogue and appeals, no official investigation has been made public, and no individuals have been held responsible. MSF continues to call on Ethiopian authorities to deliver transparency and justice, both for the victims’ families and to prevent similar atrocities in the future.