In a report that has quickly become the talk of the nation, renowned international publication The Economist has today published an investigative piece shedding new light on the massacre that unfolded in Birakat, a small town in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. The article, which draws on multiple eyewitness accounts and on-the-ground investigations, alleges that state forces are engaging in a systematic campaign of brutality against civilians in the wake of armed clashes with local militias.
According to the account detailed by The Economist, on March 31, 2025, violence erupted in Birakat during the early afternoon as government forces clashed with local militias. While the initial firefight lasted nearly five hours, what followed has been described as a grim aftermath. As the army took control of the town—according to eyewitness testimonies—they began a calculated purge. Journalists from The Economist report that teams of soldiers were seen methodically combing through the streets and homes, forcibly dragging residents from their dwellings and corralling them openly in the town center.
The report highlights harrowing scenes: one witness described seeing four women forced to kneel at the bus station with their hands tied behind their heads before being executed by soldiers firing from behind. In a similarly chilling narrative, another local confirmed that a priest was gunned down outside his church. The following morning, a returning witness counted 56 bodies on Birakat’s streets—a tally that underscored the scale of the violence and included family members of residents who had long called the community home.
The Economist’s article goes further by suggesting that these horrific events are not isolated incidents but may form part of a broader, state-endorsed strategy to instill fear and suppress dissent. Despite repeated requests for comment, the Ethiopian army has yet to respond to the allegations, leaving many to wonder whether official narratives will ever reconcile with the eyewitness testimonies detailed in the report.
As the fallout from this new exposé spreads, human rights groups and local activists are calling for immediate international intervention and an independent inquiry into the atrocities that have shaken the region. The detailed investigative work of The Economist has reinvigorated debate about the balance between state security efforts and the protection of human life—a debate that, in the eyes of many Ethiopians, has grown more urgent with every passing day.
At Ethiopia Insight, we are following these developments closely. The latest reporting by The Economist not only paints a picture of deep suffering in Birakat but also raises critical questions about the future of civilian safety in the Amhara region. With international pressure mounting, the hope remains that these revelations will spur greater accountability and ultimately bring much-needed justice to the victims of this tragic massacre.
