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Medical charity MSF accuses Ethiopian forces of ‘executing’ three aid workers in Tigray, releasing a damning report that has reignited calls for accountability and justice in the aftermath of the brutal conflict in northern Ethiopia. The findings, published this week after a four-year internal investigation, allege that the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) deliberately targeted and killed three humanitarian workers in June 2021 during a mission to assess medical needs in central Tigray.
The victims—Spanish national María Hernández Matas, and Ethiopian colleagues Yohannes Halefom Reda and Tedros Gebremariam—were traveling in a clearly marked MSF vehicle near Abi Adi when they were intercepted and shot multiple times at close range. Their bodies were later found up to 400 meters from their bullet-riddled, burned vehicle. According to MSF Spain President Paula Gil, the evidence points to a “deliberate and targeted attack,” not a tragic mistake or crossfire incident.
“This was not the result of confusion,” Gil stated. “They were facing their attackers and were shot at very close range… several times. They were executed.”
MSF’s report draws on satellite imagery, eyewitness accounts, and publicly available data on military movements, placing ENDF troops at the precise location of the killings. One witness recalled hearing a radio command from an ENDF officer instructing troops to “eliminate” a white vehicle—believed to be the MSF car—after it was spotted on the road.
The charity says it had communicated the team’s route in advance to all warring parties and that the workers were wearing MSF vests and traveling in a vehicle clearly displaying the organization’s logos. Despite holding over 20 face-to-face meetings with Ethiopian officials, MSF claims the government has failed to provide a credible account of the deaths or conduct a transparent investigation.
In mid-2022, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Justice reportedly told MSF that a preliminary inquiry found no government troops at the scene, but officials refused to put this in writing. The lack of transparency, MSF argues, suggests an absence of political will to pursue justice.
The killings occurred during a period of heightened hostility toward aid workers in Tigray, where the conflict between federal forces and Tigrayan rebels—compounded by the involvement of Eritrean troops—claimed an estimated 600,000 lives through fighting, starvation, and lack of healthcare.
The deaths of Matas, Tedros, and Yohannes have become emblematic of the dangers faced by humanitarian workers in conflict zones. A UN report from February 2024 revealed that 46 aid workers had been killed in Ethiopia since 2019, with 36 of those deaths linked to the northern conflict.
MSF’s decision to release its findings publicly is seen as a bold move to break the silence and demand accountability. “With no official account available, we have a moral duty to our staff and the families of our deceased colleagues to release our own findings,” Gil said. “This is a crucial step in exposing a horrific crime that cannot be ignored or forgotten.”
The report has sparked international condemnation, with human rights groups urging Ethiopia to launch an independent investigation and prosecute those responsible. The African Union, which brokered the 2022 peace deal, has yet to comment on the findings.
As global attention returns to the Tigray tragedy, MSF’s revelations serve as a stark reminder of the cost of impunity and the urgent need to protect humanitarian workers. The charity continues to call for justice, not just for its fallen staff, but for all victims of the conflict.