Ethiopia: Over 2,000 Women Raped in Amhara Region, BBC Investigation Finds

 Ethiopia: Over 2,000 Women Raped in Amhara Region, BBC Investigation Finds

 Ethiopia: Over 2,000 Women Raped in Amhara Region, BBC Investigation Finds

A year-long BBC investigation has revealed that more than 2,000 women and girls were raped in Ethiopia’s Amhara region between July 2023 and May 2025, amid a conflict that continues to devastate the area.

In its report titled “It would have been better if they’d killed me: A forgotten war destroying women’s lives,” the BBC said the victims ranged in age from 8 to 65 years old. The actual number of survivors is believed to be significantly higher, as many did not report the assaults or seek medical care, leaving them without essential treatment and support.

The data was compiled from 43 health centers and medical facilities across the region. According to the findings:
• 45% of the victims were under 18,
• Over 50% contracted sexually transmitted diseases, though many cases of STDs and pregnancies went unreported due to stigma.

The investigation concluded that both sides in the conflict committed sexual violence, but found that most documented cases were carried out by government forces.

Several survivors spoke to the BBC anonymously. One woman, identified as Enat, described being brutally raped at age 21 in front of her niece. “I begged them not to hurt me… but their hearts didn’t pity me. They violated me,” she said. “It would have been better if they’d killed me.”

Human rights organizations, including the UN Human Rights Office, had previously documented widespread abuses in Amhara, including extrajudicial killings, rape, and drone strikes targeting civilian areas. Hundreds of thousands of civilians have reportedly been killed since the war began, with attacks hitting health centers and schools.

The conflict escalated in August 2023, when the government launched a full-scale military offensive, claiming it aimed to disarm Fano militia forces and would last only weeks. More than two years later, fighting continues across most of the region, with no meaningful peace negotiations underway.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has repeatedly urged armed groups to lay down their weapons—calls critics say fall far short of genuine readiness for political dialogue. 

Abraham T