Ethiopia Weekly Update (19 November 2024)

Situation summary

Peace rallies were held in Oromia region amidst airstrikes and continued clashes. Meanwhile, in Amhara region, fighting was reported in Robit town in South Wello zone. 

Oromia residents gather for peace rallies 

In Oromia region, rallies were held in East Shewa, West Shewa, West Wollega, Kelem Wollega, Arsi, and Guji zones, with demonstrators demanding an end to fighting between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — and the government. Community leaders, both government-associated and traditional elders, participated in the rallies.¹Tsehay Damtew, ‘It was announced that a rally was held in various zones of the Oromia region, condemning militants and calling for peace,’ VOA Amharic, 14 November 2024 In response, the OLA/OLF-Shane released a statement accusing the government of organizing the demonstrations, pointing out that gatherings had to be approved by the government and insisting that the government’s true agenda was to disarm the population.²X@OLF-OLA, 14 November 2024 Regional government officials denied organizing the rallies and claimed that many OLA/OLF-Shane forces had been responding to calls for disarmament by surrendering peacefully.³Seyoum Getu, Hirut Melese, and Eshete Bekele, ‘What is the solution to ending the Oromia conflict?,’ DW Amharic, 15 November 2024; Facebook @oromiabc, 15 November 2024 Further, they said the regional government accepted the people’s call for peace and indicated interest in another round of peace talks with the OLA/OLF-Shane.⁴Tsehay Damtew, ‘The regional government and the armed forces have responded to the call for peace during the ongoing protests in Oromia,’ VOA Amharic, 18 November 2024 Peace rallies employing traditional practices were also held in August in various locations in North Shewa zone.⁵Seyoum Getu, Azeb Tadese and Mantegafetot Sileshi, ‘The people of Salale continue to publicly call for peace,’ DW Amharic,  27 August 2024; Seyoum Getu. Lidet Abebe and Yohanes Gebreegiziabeher, ‘The people of Salale took to the streets to call for peace,’ 23 August 2024 Reportedly, according to the residents, after these rallies abductions decreased in the area, especially in Degem and Debrelibanos woredas.⁶Seyoum Getu, Ezeb Tedese, and  Negash Mohammed, ‘The once-glorious peace that had once seemed like a glimmer of hope has been shattered again,’ DW Amharic, 8 November 2024 But since November political violence in the area has begun to increase, affecting the day-to-day life of the residents again.⁷Seyoum Getu, Ezeb Tedese, and  Negash Mohammed, ‘The once-glorious peace that had once seemed like a glimmer of hope has been shattered again,’ DW Amharic, 8 November 2024; BBC Amharic, ‘Why did the people of Salale take to the streets, their children carrying yokes and carrying their ‘valuable’ items?,’ 21 August 2024 

Following two rounds of failed peace talks in 2023, the possibility of a third round of peace talks in 2024 has become decreasingly likely as fighting between the warring parties has continued unabated, including incidents in recent weeks involving dozens of reported fatalities among civilians, government officials, and security forces. During the last week, the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) claimed to have taken military action against OLA/OLF-Shane forces in Arsi, Horo Guduru Wollega, Guji, West Shewa, and Kellem Wollega zones. A government drone strike was reported on 11 November in Hidabu Abote woreda, North Shewa zone, that killed farmers as they were harvesting fields. Artillery shells struck Babudire and Racho kebeles in Dera woreda, North Shewa zone, on 13 November, injuring at least two people. Both the government and the OLA/OLF-Shane are reportedly forcefully recruiting youth from areas throughout Oromia in anticipation of future clashes.⁸Seyoum Getu and Tsehay Chane, ‘In Oromia, militants are reportedly forcibly recruiting young people for military service,’ DW Amharic, 16 November 2024

Clashes reach Robit town in South Wello

Last week, fighting between the ENDF and Fano militias was recorded in Awi, East Gojam, South Wello, Central Gondar, North Shewa, and West Gojam zones. Continuing a trend of clashes in densely populated locations, fighting reached Robit town in Ambesel woreda, South Wello zone, during the week. Shelling and gunfire were reported throughout the city on 9 November, with two civilians wounded in the crossfire. 

In a statement issued by the federal government on the current situation in the country as part of a review of the national communications and public relations, Government Communication Service Minister Legesse Tulu decried actions by extremist forces in Amhara region and the OLA/OLF-Shane in Oromia region, blaming the groups for disrupting education and spreading diseases in both regions. He likewise insisted that “the government’s actions” had been “planned and balanced” and denied targeting civilians. Legesse also claimed that media outlets based abroad and funded by foreign countries were spreading false information through local language.⁹Facebook @FDRECommunicationService, 16 November 2024 His remarks come in the context of rising civilian fatalities as a result of drone strikes and targeted killings by government forces.