EPO Weekly Update (19 March 2024)

Situation Summary

Armed clashes continued between Fano militias and the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) in Amhara region, while Oromo and Amhara ethnic militias clashed in North Shewa zone. In Oromia region, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — battled government forces in multiple locations. Compared to the previous week, recorded political violence has decreased by over 50% across the country.

Ethnic Clashes in Amhara Region

In Amhara region, armed clashes between Fano militias and ENDF troops were reported in North Wello and West Gojam zones, indicating a slight reduction in violence last week. At the beginning of March, clashes between Fano and ENDF forces in the region escalated as the fighting spread to urban areas. 

There have been no sustained efforts to bring Fano militias and the federal government to peace talks. However, on 12 March, the Ethiopia state minister of peace announced that the government was ready to “negotiate with any group that claims to have any question.”¹Borkena, ‘Ethiopian govt says it is “ready to negotiate with any group with any questions,’ 12 March 2024 Despite this indicated readiness for negotiation, the House of Representatives voted to remove immunity from an opposition member of the House and chair of the Standing Committee for Public Expenditures & Administration Control, Christian Tadele.²VOA Amharic, ‘The council removes Mr. Christian Tadele’s immunity,’ 14 March 2024 He was arrested in August 2023 after the declaration of a state of emergency following the conflict with Fano militias in the region. Desalegn Chanie, another opposition member of parliament arrested in January under the state of emergency, was released on 14 March.³VOA Amharic, ‘Desalegn Chanie released from Prison,’ 14 March 2024

Meanwhile, on 10 and 11 March, renewed clashes were reported between Oromo and Amhara ethnic militias, with fighting in Kewet woreda, North Shewa zone, resulting in several fatalities. Deadly fighting between the two militias also occurred from 10 to 12 March in Jilye Tumuga woreda, Oromia special zone. Conflict in the North Shewa and Oromia special zones flares periodically — most recently in January 2024 — and reflects wider tensions between Amhara and Oromo communities in the country. 

Violence Against Civilians and Clashes in Oromia Region

Clashes between the ENDF troops and the OLA/OLF-Shane militants also continued in Oromia region. Government sources announced operations against the group in Gudetu Kondole woreda in West Wollega zone and Ababo woreda in Horo Guduru Wollega zone. At the same time, additional clashes were reported in Arsi and North Shewa zones. 

Additionally,  five workers from the Wonji Shoa Sugar Factory, located just outside of Dera town in Arsi zone, were found dead after being kidnapped two weeks prior. Kidnappings have increased in Oromia region over the past year in the context of expanding armed clashes.

Displacement in Tigray Region

On 12 March, an additional 28 ethnic Tigrayan civilians displaced from Humera and its surrounding villages in Western Tigray zone arrived in Shire town, North-Western Tigray zone.⁴Milliyon Haile-Selassie, Mantegaftot Seleshi, Yohanas Gebre-Egziabher, ‘The cries of the displaced in Tigray region,’ DW Amharic, 13 March 2024 Amhara forces have controlled Western Tigray zone since the outbreak of the northern Ethiopia conflict in November 2020. While a small number in comparison to the thousands of people displaced since the start of the conflict in 2020, the new displacement of ethnic Tigrayans from these disputed areas marks a significant development in a highly-contested area (for more on disputed territory, see EPO Monthly: February 2024).

On 11 March, the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) met with federal government officials under the African Union’s supervision to discuss the implementation of the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Ethiopia.⁵African Union, ‘Statement of the Chairperson of the AUC H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat on the occasion of the 1st Strategic Reflection on the Implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement,’ 11 March 2024 This agreement was signed by the TPLF and the government in November 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa, halting the violent conflict in northern Ethiopia. The European Union and G7 countries issued a statement on 13 March welcoming the meeting and indicated that more progress was needed to create the necessary environment for the disarmament and demobilization of combatants and to address the needs of those affected by the conflict.⁶US Embassy Addis, ‘Joint Statement,’ 13 March 2024