Britain will be giving million of dollars worth of training to an Ethiopian paramilitary force accused of severe human rights abuses, including rape and extra judicial killings, the London-based Guardian newspaper reported on Friday.
It cited a British Department for International Development (DFiD) document showing plans to train the force in the ethnic-Somali region of Ogaden as part of a five-year "peace-building" programme with a cost of 13 million to 15 million pounds (21-24.2 million dollars).
The document allegedly notes the "reputational risks of working alongside actors frequently cited in human rights violation allegations." The British authorities also say the paramilitary's "recruitment methods (are) similar to those of insurgent groups."
Both Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have said that the unit, meant to take on insurgent groups hostile to the government in Addis Ababa, has committed numerous rights abuses, spreading fear throughout the region.
Despite repeated accusations of stifling journalists and the opposition, Ethiopia remains a major recipient of Western aid, with Addis Ababa positioning itself as an ally in the war against terrorism in East Africa, especially in Somalia.