Calls for Accountability After Aid Workers' Murder in Ethiopia

A recent report by Doctors Without Borders condemns the Ethiopian government for inadequate investigation of the 2021 murder of three aid workers, implicating Ethiopian soldiers and urging justice

Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has publicly accused the Ethiopian government of failing to conduct a thorough investigation into the 2021 killings of three of its aid workers, delivering a report on July 15, 2025, that highlights soldiers of the Ethiopian military as likely perpetrators. The grim discovery of these aid workers’ bodies, found on a remote roadside in the Tigray region, has drawn international concern, especially given the ongoing humanitarian crisis amid a civil war.

Raquel Ayora, a senior official at MSF, emphasized the deliberate nature of the attacks, stating, “Our team was executed.” She argued there can be no doubt that the victims were targeted as civilians, given their role in providing humanitarian assistance. The new findings align with a 2022 New York Times investigation that suggested an Ethiopian military officer had ordered the killings.

The organization has noted a rising hostility from Ethiopian state forces against international aid workers in the lead-up to the killings. Despite public promises from the government of an active investigation, families of the victims report receiving no substantial updates or credible conclusions about what transpired.

Having noted the presence of Ethiopian troops in the area at the time of the incident, MSF has intensified its calls for accountability, underlining the urgent need for credible investigative measures to ensure that those responsible for the killings face justice.