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International Crimes and History

Publication Date: 2010

Author: K. Isaac WELDESELLASSIE

Under the Derg regime, which ruled Ethiopia from 1974 to 1991, tens of thousands of Ethiopians were killed, tortured or detained particularly during the infamous “Red Terror” purges of the late 1970s. Upon deposing the Derg regime, the Ethiopian Government became willing to accept its national and international obligations to investigate and bring to justice those involved in crimes and human rights violations during the Derg military junta, and embarked on a policy to create a more democratic future and live by the rule of law. However, accomplishing justice after a lengthy civil war and dictatorial regime is not an easy task; despite the severe difficulties and lengthy process, the Ethiopian Government managed to bring to justice those perpetrators and sentenced to some of them while in absentia. This paper discusses the prosecution of the Derg officials, particularly those involved in the Red Terror campaign, and challenges the prosecution encountered in Ethiopia.

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