Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has accused Ethiopian government forces of executing three of its aid workers in 2021 during a humanitarian mission in Ethiopia’s war-ravaged Tigray region, calling the incident an “intentional and targeted” killing. The revelation comes as the international medical charity released the findings of its independent investigation into the deaths of María Hernández Matas, a 35-year-old Spanish national, and two Ethiopian colleagues, Yohannes Halefom Reda (32) and Tedros Gebremariam (31), who were murdered on 24 June 2021.
The killings occurred during the height of the brutal Tigray conflict, which began in late 2020 and saw heavy involvement from Ethiopian and Eritrean forces. According to MSF Spain’s general director, Raquel Ayora, the aid workers were fully identifiable wearing MSF vests, driving a clearly marked MSF vehicle, and having pre-notified local armed groups of their planned route.
“They were executed,” Ayora told the BBC, saying they were shot at close range several times while facing their attackers. The organization said its team had no engagement in combat and was on a routine humanitarian assessment between Abi Adi and Yech’illa in central Tigray.
MSF’s internal investigation, supported by satellite imagery, witness testimonies, and public records of troop movements, placed Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) soldiers at the scene of the killings. Witnesses reportedly heard a military commander instruct soldiers to shoot at the MSF vehicle and later ordered his troops to “go and catch them” and “remove them” when the vehicle turned off the road and stopped.
The bodies of Ms. Matas and Mr. Yohannes were found 100–400 meters from the charred wreckage of their vehicle, while the driver, Mr. Tedros, remained close to the car, as per MSF travel protocols. The vehicle had been riddled with bullets and burned.
Despite 20 meetings between MSF and Ethiopian authorities over the past four years, the charity says the government has failed to provide a “credible account” or written response, although officials verbally claimed that no government troops were present at the time. MSF insists this claim contradicts the weight of its evidence.
The Tigray war, which ended with a 2022 African Union-brokered peace deal, left an estimated 600,000 people dead from combat, starvation, and lack of healthcare. The conflict was marked by widespread reports of atrocities against civilians and growing hostility toward aid workers operating in the region.
MSF’s report adds to mounting concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers globally and the impunity often granted to perpetrators of violence against them. The organization is calling for justice not only for its murdered colleagues but also to reinforce international norms protecting humanitarian missions.
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