Ethiopia Weekly Update (30 July 2024)

Situation summary

Civilians continue to be victims of targeted violence by insurgent groups. Last week, Fano militias were accused of conducting violence targeting civilians in both Amhara and Oromia regions. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least seven civilians. In the Oromia region, this violence sparked armed confrontations between the militias and security forces in North Shewa zone. 

Militants target civilians in Amhara region

In Amhara region, Fano militias reportedly took 16 civilians captive and then killed at least four of them in south Mecha woreda, West Gojam zone, accusing the victims of collaborating with the government by participating in a peace conference in Bahir Dar. Victims reportedly included the leaders of various social society organizations, including the diocese kebele leader for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.¹Solomon Muche, Eshete Bekele, and Tsehay Chane, ‘The case of people killed by militants in South Mecha, Amhara region,’ DW Amharic, 26 July 2024 The Amhara regional government released a statement condemning the killings and said the 16 civilians were not members of the peace committee established at the end of June at a peace conference in Bahir Dar city, as the militias had claimed.²Amhara Communications, ‘If the world understands that it is not possible to achieve any goal by killing innocent citizens, peace is not profitable under any criteria,’ 23 July 2024 Another report indicated that the civilians had been in Bahir Dar to attend a training organized by a nongovernmental organization.³BBC Amharic, ‘What we know so far about the alleged torture and killing by Fano militants in North Gojam,’ 27 July 2024 

Clashes continued throughout the week in Amhara region, with fighting between Fano militias and the Ethiopian National Defense Force reported in South Gondar, East Gojam, West Gojam, Central Gondar, South Wello, and North Wello zones. In Bahir Dar, authorities imposed night curfews, citing security concerns.⁴Amhara Media Corporation, ‘Bahir Dar City Administration Security Council announced its decisions on various restrictions,’ 28 July 2024

Clashes at the border of Oromia and Amhara regions

Attacks by suspected Fano militias on Oromo communities in Dera woreda, North Shewa zone, near the border of Oromia and Amhara regions on 24 July drew a response from local kebele militias and Oromia regional police, leading to deadly clashes. Fano militias reportedly killed at least three civilians before being pushed back by Oromia security forces. 

Violence in North Shewa zone of Oromia region rose following the first round of peace talks between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — failed in May 2023. The rise was connected to the OLA/OLF-Shane; however, since then, Fano militias have become involved in various activities in the area, including attacks targeting civilians and armed clashes with OLA/OLF Shane. ACLED records 14 clashes involving Fano militias in the zone since the beginning of 2024. Hence, in 2024, North Shewa zone has become one of the most violent locations in the country.