MSF Alleges Ethiopian Troops ‘Executed’ Three Aid Workers in Tigray

An explosive new report from Médecins Sans Frontières (Doctors Without Borders) alleges that three of its humanitarian workers were deliberately executed by Ethiopian government forces during the brutal Tigray conflict.

Four years after the shocking deaths of a Spanish aid worker and two Ethiopians in northern Ethiopia, MSF has gone public with its findings—accusing the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) of carrying out the killings.

“They were executed at point-blank range,” said Raquel Ayora, Director of MSF Spain, in an interview with the BBC. “They were identifiable as aid workers. They wore our vests. Our flag was visible. There was no mistake.”

Who Were the Victims?

The victims—35-year-old Spaniard María Hernández Matas, 32-year-old Yohannes Halefom Reda, and 31-year-old Tedros Gebremariam—were on a medical assessment mission in central Tigray on June 24, 2021.

All three were respected, passionate humanitarians. Tedros had just become a father. His wife later named their daughter “Maria,” in tribute to the fallen Spanish colleague.

“These were people who gave everything to help others. Their loss is immeasurable,” said Ayora.

Clear Targeting, No Accountability

According to MSF, the team was gunned down despite being clearly marked as a humanitarian convoy. The vehicle bore MSF logos, and all workers wore identifiable gear.

Satellite images, eyewitness testimonies—both civilian and military—place a convoy of retreating Ethiopian soldiers at the scene of the killings. One account alleges that a commander ordered the attack directly.

MSF says it has pleaded with the Ethiopian government for answers in over 20 meetings across four years—but no credible explanation has ever been offered.

“We had to speak out. We owed it to them, and to every aid worker putting their life on the line,” Ayora stated.

A War with a Massive Human Cost

The killings happened at the height of the devastating Tigray conflict, which erupted in 2020 and raged until a 2022 African Union-brokered peace deal. Former Nigerian president and AU envoy Olusegun Obasanjo estimates 600,000 people died—many from violence, starvation, or lack of medical care.

Aid workers were frequently obstructed and targeted during the war, especially by Ethiopian and Eritrean forces. MSF's report underscores the rising hostility towards humanitarian missions during the conflict's most intense period.

Still No Justice

While the charity's findings strongly implicate the Ethiopian army, MSF admits the "full extent and nature" of military involvement remains unclear. However, the evidence, they say, is damning enough.

“We need justice,” Ayora said. “We need truth—not silence.”