Ethiopia Weekly Update (3 September 2024)

Situation summary

Political violence continues to impact civilians in Ethiopia. Last week, armed clashes involving insurgent groups and security forces were reported in Oromia and Amhara regions. Meanwhile, attacks against civilians persisted in Central Ethiopia region.

Violence surges in Dera woreda in Oromia region

Violence escalated in Dera woreda of North Shewa zone in Oromia region. Fano militias and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — clashed in Dambi Wurje kebele in Dera woreda on 24 and 25 August. The two parties also clashed in Selelkula kebele on 28 August. Fano militias also clashed with kebele militias in Dembi Birje kebele when members of Fano militias tried to enter Gundo Meskel town, the administrative center of Dera woreda. The insurgent group was pushed back by the kebele militias before they entered the town. Attacks targeting civilians by Fano and OLA/OLF-Shane were also reported in Jiru Dada and Tuti kebeles, respectively, resulting in at least four reported fatalities.

Dera woreda, one of the 13 woredas of North Shewa zone, has become host to one of the highest rates of political violence, including violence against civilians, in Ethiopia. Violence in North Shewa zone rose following the first round of peace talks between the government and OLA/OLF-Shane, which failed in May 2023. This surge was linked to OLA/OLF-Shane; however, following the escalation of the Fano insurgency in the Amhara region in August 2023, Fano militias have become involved in various kinds of political violence in the area, including attacks targeting civilians and armed clashes with OLA/OLF Shane and security forces. In 2024, ACLED records 95 political violence events in North Shewa zone, and 51% of these events were recorded in Dera.

Security erodes amid battles in Amhara region

Armed clashes between Fano militias and the Ethiopian National Defense Force have persisted in Amhara region. Last week, armed clashes were recorded in Awi, East Gojam, West Gojam, North Wello, and South Wello zones. Most of these armed clashes were reported in East and West Gojam zones.

After a relative lull in April, political violence began to rise in the region in July. Due to this ongoing fighting and lack of security, civilians are struggling to conduct their day-to-day activities in the region.¹Tsehay Chanew and Mantegafetot Seleshi, ‘The conflict that gave birth to a crisis in the Amhara region,’ DW Amharic, 30 August 2024 Frequent road closures, violence targeting civilians, and abductions have affected society.

Attacks against civilians persist in Central Ethiopia region

On 27 August, members of Meskan ethnic militia who came from East Meskan woreda shot and killed seven ethnic Mareko civilians and wounded four others in Dida Halebo kebele in Mareko Special woreda, Central Ethiopia region. The attack was related to the unsettled dispute between Meskan and Mareko ethnic groups over the ownership of nine kebeles. The recent round of violence involving members of the two ethnic groups began in June 2024 and escalated in August, with five political events being recorded – two armed clashes between Mareko and Meskan ethnic militias and three incidents of violence targeting Mareko ethnic members by Meskan ethnic militias. On 12 June, 88 people were arrested in the Mesken Special woreda over claims they took part in the violent conflict. Nevertheless, the violence has continued.