Situation Summary

Last week in Ethiopia, violence involving insurgencies continued in Amhara and Oromia regions, while arrests were reported in Central Ethiopia region. In Amhara region, fighting between Fano militia and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) continued, with multiple clashes and airstrikes. Meanwhile, in Oromia region, some clashes were reported between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — and the ENDF. There was also a reported clash between kebele militia and Fano militias on the border of Amhara and Oromia regions. Overall, in Ethiopia, levels of violence increased last week compared to the previous week.

Clashes and Airstrikes in Amhara Region

Instability continued in Amhara region, with clashes between Fano militia and the ENDF reported in Awi, North Wello, West Gojam, and Central Gondar zones. Intense clashes between the two parties were reported for four consecutive days in Adet town, West Gojam zone. The ENDF conducted at least two air strikes during the fighting, leading to 32 reported fatalities. Moreover, clashes in Fendika town, Awi zone, reportedly led to dozens of fatalities, which could not be confirmed. On 12 January, ENDF conducted a drone strike on a recreation center being used by Fano militias in Alem town, North Shewa, causing two reported fatalities and several civilian injuries.¹BBC Amharic, ‘Two people were killed in a drone attack near a school in Merhabete district,’ 15 January 2024

Multiple Conflicts in Oromia Region 

Clashes between OLA/OLF-Shane and the ENDF continued in Oromia region. However, the number of clashes between the two actors has decreased since December 2023. On 12 January, the ENDF conducted a drone strike in Guduru woreda, Horo Guduru Wollega zone, targeting the OLA/OLF-Shane camp and resulting in four reported fatalities. Following this drone strike, a three-day fighting was reported from 13 to 15 January in Shunke and Abeyi Robi kebeles in Guduru woreda.

Meanwhile, on 16 January, Fano militias clashed with local kebele militia in areas near Gundo Meskel town in Dera woreda, North Shewa zone — near the border of Oromia and Amhara regions. Due to this clash, at least 10 fatalities were reported, and several houses were burned. Last year, political violence in North Shewa zone increased by about 60%, with most of the violence occurring in Dera woreda. Over 80% of the political violence in Dera woreda was recorded between August and December 2023.

Clashes involving Fano militias occur regularly in Oromia region, although the identity of said militias is often disputed. The decentralized nature of Fano militias in Ethiopia and the wide range of political stances the Fano militias take along the lines of Amhara community protection means that armed groups of Amhara ethnic militias in Oromia region may or may not have connections with the anti-government Fano insurgency operating in Amhara region. Oromo and Amhara communities often clash in areas near the border. Tensions reached a high point in the spring of 2022 when Amhara ethnic militia shot and killed 28 members of Oromia region security forces — kebele militias and state police —  in a contested area on the border of East Shewa zone in Oromia and North Shewa zone in Amhara. This incident raised tensions between the Oromia and Amhara regional leaderships, as both released contesting narratives of the event. The Oromia regional state government blamed Amhara ethnic militias, while the North Shewa zone administration in Amhara region claimed the events occurred after the Oromo ethnic militiamen had shot and killed a federal police officer²Addis Standard, ‘News: Oromia State govt warns “extremist forces operating in the name of Amhara”, infiltrating region and committing “disgusting acts”,’ 4 April 2022; Amhara Communications, ‘It was announced that the North Shewa zone and the East Shewa zone are working to hold accountable the militants who caused damage to the Amora Bet Awera Godana kebele in Menjar Shenkora woreda,’ 31 March 2022 (for more on the complexity of the conflict and the presence of Amhara militias in Oromia, see EPO Monthly: December 2022).

Arrests in Central Ethiopia Region

In Central Ethiopia region, security officials in Hosaena, Hadiya zone, announced the arrest of 29 individuals, including the owner of a local media company, accused of spreading false information and inciting violence.³Yonatan Zebdios, ‘In central Ethiopia, 29 people were arrested on suspicion of spreading false information,’ VOA Amharic, 19 January 2024 Hadiya zone has consistently faced issues related to paying the salaries of public employees, and mass arrests and protests connected to this issue were reported throughout the latter half of 2023. Schools and other public buildings have not been able to function normally for some time due to a lack of funds.⁴Ethiopia Human Rights Commission, ‘Questions related to the budget and related issues and the implications of human rights in areas where new governance and structures are being developed,’ 23 December 2023; Shewangizaw Wegayew, Mantegaftot Seleshi and Yohanes Gebre Egziabher, ‘Mass arrest continued in Hadiya zone,’ DW Amharic, 26 November 2023; Addis Standard, ‘News: Government employees in Hadiya Zone on strike over unpaid salaries, resulting in shutdown of public services,’ 18 October 2023 Complaints of poor governance and unpaid salaries have been common issues for areas of the former Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples region, often preceding requests for self-administration that lead to additional violence.