War in Amhara facts for kids

Quick facts for kids War in Amhara
Part of Ethiopian civil conflict (2018–present)
Territorial control as of August 2023
Date 9 April 2023 – present (1 year, 7 months and 2 weeks) Location Amhara Region, Ethiopia Status Ongoing Clashes erupted between Fano and ENDF Drone attacks against civilians Amhara civilians mass arrest Local government officials fled their homes State of emergency declared ENDF retook major towns in Amhara including Gondar, Bahir Dar and Lalibela on 8 August
Belligerents
Fano	ENDF
Commanders and leaders
Unknown commanders	Abiy Ahmed Sahle-Work Zewde Birhanu Jula Abebaw Tadesse

The War in Amhara is an armed conflict in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia that began in April 2023 between the Amhara regional forces along with the Fano militia, and the Ethiopian government. The conflict began after the Ethiopian military raided the Amhara Region to disarm the Amhara Special Forces and other regional allies, which resulted in resistance of local armed forces and a series of protests in Gondar, Kobo, Sekota, Weldiya and other cities on 9 April.

On 27 April, the head of Amhara's Prosperity Party Girma Yeshitila was assassinted in Menz, North Shewa. The Ethiopian government accused the Eastern faction of the Fano militia for plotting overthrowing the government. The Ethiopian security forces said on 30 April that 47 suspects were arrested by the Ethiopian government in connection with an alleged assassination plot.

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) stated on 4 May 2023 that militarized situations were present in four towns of the North Gondar, North Wollo and North Shewa zones.

Background

The Amhara regional forces played a crucial role during the Tigray War, fighting alongside the Ethiopian National Defense Force against the TPLF-led Tigray Defense Forces. Amid the Tigray War in early 2021, there was strife in the Oromia Special Zone of the Amhara Region where fighting occurred between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and Amhara Special Forces. Local witness told that the OLA, along with other ethnic Oromo militants, overwhelmingly took control of Ataye town on 20 March 2021. The OLA was actively allied with the Tigrayan rebels at the time.

Fano fighters near Saint George Church, Lalibela shortly after recapturing it from TDF during the Tigray War

The November 2022 peace agreement which was signed between the Tigrayan and Ethiopian government counterparts opened the door for the OLA insurgency amidst security and provisional reform in Tigray. As a result, OLA had participated in massacre of ethnic Amharas in the Oromia region. In May 2022, Abiy Ahmed government arrested 4,000 people in Amhara to undermine Fano militia rebellion who were critical to his power.

Initial Fano objectives as of March 2020 was for Benishangul-Gumuz Region's Metekel Zone, the northern districts of Welkait and Raya in Tigray, as well as the southern district of Dera to be placed under the control of the Amhara Region. The military stalemate that preceded the November 2022 peace agreement precluded any land swap in the region, as Ethiopian leaders no longer were interested in supporting Fano's territorial goals. This, coupled with the OLA insurgency in the area, rapidly led to a worsening of relations between Fano and the federal government, which had been ironclad allies just a few years before.

Outbreak and emergency

In early April 2023, federal forces stormed into the Amhara region to disarm regional and paramilitary forces. The local civilians moved to remote areas, as the resistant fighters joined a protest with police forces. On 9 April, large-scale protests were flared up in Gondar, Kobo, Seqota, Weldiya and other cities, including road obstruction and setting tires ablaze to block the incoming Ethiopian Army. The Ethiopian government started to repress opposition media in the region.

On 4 May, the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reported a series of militarized situations in the area of North Gondar, North Wollo and North Shewa zones in the town of Shewa Robit, Armania, Antsokiyana Gemza and Majete. The Amhara regional government accused the Fano militia's eastern faction for the killing of the head of Amhara Prosperity Party Girma Yeshitila on 27 April. Subsequently, the Ethiopian security forces arrested 47 suspects allegedly connected to the assassination plot, accusing them for overthrowing the authorities. The public broadcaster EBC stated that the suspect caught in variety weapons and utilities including weapons, bombs and satellite communications equipment.

On 1–2 August, Fano and ENDF reinstated clashes in Debre Tabor. Fighting in Kobo was intense on 1 August but subsided in the next day. One sources stated that Fano militia seized Lalibela Airport. ENDF spokesperson Colonel Getnet Adane threatened in state television that the military would take an action if Fano continue "disturbing the country's peace". On Twitter, Spain's embassy in Ethiopia warned Spanish tourists not to leave the city. On 4 August, a state of emergency was declared by Ethiopian government and placed Amhara region under the military command post. Restrictions include curfews, transports, internet shutdown and public gatherings. The ENDF military overwhelmingly deployed and retook major towns in Amhara, including Gondar, Lalibela and Bahir Dar since 8 August.

Human rights violations

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said that many human rights violations have occurred throughout Amhara Region. The EHRC said that the Ethiopian Air Force's shelling and airstrikes on Debre Birhan, Finote Selam, and Bure has caused civilian casualties as well as damage to residential and public areas. Reuters reported that an airstrike on the town centre of Finote Selam left 26 civilians dead and 55 people injured. People of Amhara origin in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa were reportedly subjected to widespread arrests by security forces.