EPO Weekly Update (23 April 2024)

Situation Summary

Last week, clashes between forces from Amhara and Tigray regions expanded in disputed territories in Southern Tigray zone, Tigray, while armed clashes between government forces and insurgencies continued in Amhara and Oromia regions.

Clashes Expand in Disputed Territories in Tigray

In a major escalation of hostilities between armed forces from Amhara and Tigray regions, clashes were reported in disputed territories in Raya Alamata, Zata, Ofla, and Alamata woredas in Southern Tigray zone. Fighting began on 13 April and continued through 15 April, ending when federal forces intervened and controlled Alamata town. According to authorities in the host communities of North Wello and Wag Hamra zones, the number of displaced people due to the renewed hostilities had reached more than 50,000.¹

Clashes in Southern Tigray zone — officially recognized as part of Tigray region but de facto administered by officials from Amhara region — were recorded in February for the first time since the end of the northern Ethiopia conflict in November 2022. Clashes also occurred at the end of March. Last week’s confrontation marked a significant escalation of clashes, both geographically and in number, and threatens the delicate peace achieved through the Pretoria agreement.

Getachew Reda, president of the Interim Regional Administration of Tigray, issued a statement indicating that the clashes were a “work of diehard enemies of the Pretoria agreement.”² The Amhara regional government issued a statement accusing the Tigray People’s Liberation Front of invading areas with active identity questions — referring to the status of Western and Southern Tigray zones, which Amhara region claims as an ethnic homeland — and inciting war.³ Federal authorities commented on the clashes and asked that all sides respect the Pretoria agreement and have reiterated their commitment to resolve the issues of disputed territories via a referendum.⁴ Clashes are likely to continue to expand in these areas and could draw in wider fighting, demonstrations, and prolonged violence in the coming weeks.

Continued Clashes in Amhara

In Amhara region, clashes between government forces and Fano militias were also reported. Clashes between Fano militias and the Ethiopian National Defense Force soldiers were reported in West Gojam, Central Gondar, South Gondar, North Shewa, and Awi zones. In Feres Bet, West Gojam zone — an area where conflict has occurred frequently since November 2023 — government forces claimed to have killed 64 Fano fighters during clashes, wounding several others.⁵ In Awi zone, heavy weapons fired by government troops during clashes reportedly resulted in the deaths of at least five civilians.

Clashes and a Transport Strike in Oromia

Armed clashes persisted in Oromia region. Clashes between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — and government forces were reported in and around Batu town (Ziway) in East Shewa zone, and in East Wollega and West Shewa zones. A number of violent incidents targeting transport drivers were also reported in and around Meki town, where a political officer for the Oromo Liberation Front party was assassinated a week earlier. At least one driver was reportedly killed, four gas station workers were kidnapped, and at least one truck and several ‘Bajaj’ three-wheeled vehicles were set ablaze by OLA/OLF-Shane forces in Meki who were enforcing a transportation strike in response to the killing of the political officer the week prior.⁶

Ethiopia at a Glance

13-19 April 2024

The data cover the period from 13 to 19 April 2024. For more information about how ACLED collects data and categorizes events, see the ACLED Codebook. Some events from this coverage period might be included in the data in subsequent weeks due to reporting delays.

Political Violence Events⁷: 46

+24% from previous week

Demonstration Events⁸: 2

-50% from previous week