EPO Weekly: 11-17 November 2023

By the Numbers: Ethiopia, 11-17 November 2023¹

Total number of political violence events: 21
Total number of reported fatalities from political violence: 91
Total number of reported fatalities from civilian targeting: 73

By the Numbers: Ethiopia, 11 November 2022-17 November 2023

Total number of political violence events: 1,214
Total number of reported fatalities from political violence: 3,769
Total number of reported fatalities from civilian targeting: 1,362

Ethiopia data are available through a curated EPO data file as well as the main ACLED export tool.

Situation Summary

Clashes between insurgent groups and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) continued in Amhara and Oromia regions, while a fatal riot was reported in Tigray region.

Despite ongoing peace talks between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA, also referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane) and the Ethiopian government, limited clashes were reported in Oromia region. Last week, eight battle events were recorded in the region, with the majority – seven out of eight – being recorded in North Shewa zone (see map below). Most of the armed clashes in North Shewa zone were between OLF-Shane and ENDF. Clashes in North Shewa zone have been consistently occurring since October, with most battles being recorded in the northern parts of the zone, separated from Amhara region by the Nile River. Instability in this zone has intermittently disrupted travel along the A3 highway connecting Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar, the capital of Amhara region² (for more, see the EPO Weekly: 5-11 February 2022).

In Amhara region, clashes between Fano militias and the ENDF persisted, with battle events reported in South Wello and West Gojam zones last week. Ongoing clashes have caused road closures, hindering at least one Red Cross aid convoy from reaching populations in Wag Hamra zone.³ Moreover, on 10 November, Fano militias reportedly shot and killed at least five ethnic Oromo civilians for unknown reasons in Sontom and Beko Tobo kebeles in Bure woreda, located at the border of Amhara and Oromia regions. Consequently, over 3000 residents, primarily ethnic Oromo, fled to the neighboring Horo Guduru Wollega zone in Oromia region following the violence. The leader of the Fano militias from this area denied responsibility, attributing the blame to government-affiliated militias instead.⁴

In Benshangul/Gumuz region, militants from the Gumuz People’s Democratic Movement (GPDM) signed an agreement with the Benshangul Gumuz regional government in Genete Mariam town. Subsequently, members of the GPDM surrendered their arms and returned to their homes. Similar disarmament efforts have occurred in the past, with militants occasionally resuming insurgent activity (for more, see the EPO Weekly:11-17 March 2023 and the EPO Weekly: 15-21 July 2023).

In Tigray region, on 11 November, approximately 125 prisoners held in the Mekele Zone Prison (also known as Romanat) rioted over substandard conditions. The prisoners clashed with prison guards and police officers, leading to intervention by the guards. Prison guards shot and killed four prisoners and wounded nine others as they attempted to escape. Seven security guards were also injured. Additionally, taxi drivers and owners ceased providing transportation services in Mekele town for four days, starting on 13 November, to protest the government’s unresponsiveness to tariff adjustments.

Lastly, on 14 November, USAID announced a “one year trial period” for the resumption of food aid across Ethiopia following “comprehensive reforms” undertaken by the Ethiopian government and humanitarian partners.⁵ In June, USAID accused Ethiopian officials of diverting aid to combatants and reselling the aid for export.⁶