Missing for 2 Years and 4 Months: The Disappeared Members of Ethiopia’s Amhara Youth Movement
Families Still Await Answers as Six Young Activists Remain in Unknown Detention Since October 2023
It has now been two years and four months since six members of the Amhara Youth Movement vanished into Ethiopia’s detention system, leaving their families with no information about their whereabouts, condition, or even whether they are alive.
The young activists were arrested during a house-to-house search operation in Bishoftu (Debre Zeit) in October 2023, conducted under the state of emergency declared in August of that year. Since that day, their families have received no official communication, no access to the detainees, and no transparency from Ethiopian authorities.
The six arrested members are:
- Sewmehon Tamrat — Leader of the group
- Zelalem Tilahun
- Tefera Wendmu
- Biruk W/Giorgis
- Yosef Aragaw
- Henok Asmelash — Arrested at the airport while attempting to leave the country
A seventh member, the deputy leader known only as “Vice (T.S.),” also disappeared. His identity remains undisclosed for security reasons.
A Movement Born from Compassion
The Amhara Youth Movement was established in January 2020 by eight young volunteers, two full-time and six part-time members, dedicated to humanitarian work within the Amhara community. Operating quietly in Addis Ababa, Bishoftu, Dukem, Mojo, Legetafo, and Sendafa, the group focused on charitable activities that included:
- Collecting funds from nearby business owners to cover school materials and tuition fees for children whose parents were imprisoned or had died
- Visiting imprisoned activists in Bishoftu and Kaliti prisons to offer support and solidarity
- Raising funds to support the release of drivers who had been detained by armed groups, and reuniting them with their families
- Fundraising for internally displaced Amhara civilians who had been forced from their homes and were living in desperate conditions
- Undertaking other similar efforts in support of the community, always working quietly and selflessly
Families Under Threat
Rather than providing information about the detained activists, Ethiopian authorities have reportedly resorted to intimidating their families. According to sources, family members have faced threats of violence, unlawful interrogation, property destruction, and pressure to remain silent, particularly regarding contact with foreign media outlets.
“No family should have to live in such fear, and no one should disappear without a word,” said one advocate familiar with the case, speaking on condition of anonymity.
Unconfirmed Reports
While unverified information suggests that three of the detainees may be held at Awash Arba Prison, this has not been officially confirmed. The lack of transparency has left families in agonizing uncertainty for more than two years.
International Call to Action
Human rights advocates are calling on the international community, including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and foreign governments, to pressure Ethiopian authorities for answers. The Ethiopian diaspora and independent media outlets have also been urged to amplify the voices of these families.
“These young people deserve transparency, justice, and, if they are alive, their freedom. If not, their families deserve to know the truth and to bury their loved ones with dignity.”
Demands for Justice
Advocates demand that the Ethiopian government:
- Immediately disclose the location and condition of all detained members
- Grant families and legal representatives access to the detainees
- Release the activists if they are alive, or return their remains if they have died
- End the intimidation and harassment of family members
- Ensure due process and fair trials for all political detainees
As the 28-month mark approaches with no resolution, the case of the Amhara Youth Movement members stands as a stark reminder of the human cost of political repression and the urgent need for accountability in Ethiopia’s justice system.