On December 19, 2024, government forces opened fire on students protesting on the campus of Debark University, killing one student and injuring two others.

The students were protesting a shortage of funding for student meals. In the course of the protest, the students began to call for support from the Fano militia, an ethno-nationalist Amhara group. Government forces entered the campus and began shooting indiscriminately, killing one student and injuring two. It was unclear whether the university had invited the government forces onto campus or not. In addition, hundreds of students were reportedly temporarily detained before being released the following day.

Scholars at Risk is gravely concerned about the use of lethal force during a student protest and about the detention of students exercising their rights to the freedom of expression. SAR offers condolences to the family and colleagues of the deceased student. While state authorities have a responsibility to maintain order and security, they also have an obligation to ensure that their actions are proportionate to the situation. In addition to the harm to the immediate victim, violence during protests undermines academic freedom and democratic society generally.

Sources:
*SAR identified this incident in data made publicly available by the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED)
https://borkena.com/2024/12/20/ethiopia-govt-forces-open-fire-at-debark-university-student-reportedly-killed
https://africa.dailynewsegypt.com/ethiopia-government-forces-open-fire-on-students-at-debark-university-one-dead/