An Ethiopian man, only identified as Mr O, could sue the British government over the alleged funding of a project which led to human rights abuses.
Mr O, a farmer from the Gambella region, said a “villagisation” scheme, which received funding from the Department for International Development (Dfid), caused him to be evicted and beaten. He also claims he was forced to witness the rape of several women.
His lawyers at London firm Leigh Day & Co said his family was forced from the family farm by the Ethiopian National Defence Force and resettled in a new village without being given farmland, food or water.
When Mr O attempted to return to his farm he alleged ENDF soldiers assaulted him.
Rosa Curling, one of the lawyers representing Mr O said that the British government needs to be more transparent.
"The UK spends a considerable amount of money on international aid and Dfid has a responsibility to ensure that this money does not contribute in any way to human rights abuses such as the ones suffered by our client.
"Our government has a duty to ensure that the programmes it supports meet the highest compliance standards,"
A Dfid spokesperson denied that the UK funds any commune projects in Ethiopia and said they could not comment further on the case due to the threatened legal action.
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