In its 2017 Ethiopian calendar year report, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), a state-appointed yet legally autonomous body, questioned reports of drone attacks allegedly carried out by the government.

The 152-page report, covering the human rights situation between June 2016 and June 2017 in the Ethiopian calendar (2024–2025 Gregorian), makes no reference to air or drone attacks.

The report described it as “a weapon that fails to adhere to its intended military objective”.

Berhanu Adelo, who was appointed Chief Commissioner of the EHRC in January 2025, was questioned by journalists on Monday about the alleged drone attacks while presenting his report. In the 2017 Ethiopian calendar year, the commissioner said only two drone strikes were reported to the commission, but both were deemed not credible. He said, “There were allegations of drone attacks compiled in the report. These involved heavy weapons and were confusing. Some witnesses said something like, ‘A noise came from the sky, with one device arriving first, followed by another.’

Several media outlets, including the BBC, have reported extensively on drone strikes, particularly in the Amhara region, where conflict continues, citing eyewitnesses, town residents, and affected families. Local officials, when previously questioned about the attacks, insisted no innocent people were harmed and did not challenge reports on the type of weapon used.

Berhanu Adelo replaced Daniel Bekele as head of the EHRC following criticism from the Abiy regime, after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed openly criticized the institution responsible for monitoring respect for human rights in Ethiopia, accusing it of being “hostage to foreigners.” In mid-July, two senior commissioners—Deputy Commissioner Rakeb Melese and Commissioner for Women, Children, Older Persons, and Disability Rights Rigibe G. Hawarya—submitted their resignations, reportedly due to dissatisfaction with Berhanu Adelo’s leadership style. The institution, which had previously upheld a participatory approach, has in recent months failed to notify, involve, or consult its officials and employees in decision-making—an issue that may have contributed to the resignation of the commission’s senior leaders, according to sources. On June 2025, in an interview with Ethiopian Television, Abiy Ahmed reiterated his criticism of the EHRC, saying that over the past three or four years, the commission has consistently published distorted reports against the Ethiopian government.