Ethiopian forces and local militias in the Amhara region have killed dozens of civilians in recent months, deepening a security crisis that has plagued the area since mid-2023.
The conflict, which erupted after the Tigray war, has become the country’s largest security challenge since the civil war ended.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reported at least 740 civilian deaths in 2023 alone, with 115 more killed between September and December of that year. These figures, however, represent only a partial accounting of the widespread violence, as communication restrictions in the region hinder access to reliable data.
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One shocking case involved Ethiopian government forces, who arrested 11 civilians in Amhara’s Eastern Gojjam Zone during house-to-house searches. Accused of being relatives or supporters of the Fano militia, they were killed at a nearby military camp. Another report detailed the killing of 38 people in December by Fano fighters, who had detained 80 locals they labeled as government informants.
Both federal government and regional officials have declined to comment on these allegations, and Fano, a decentralized militia with no formal spokesperson, has not responded to requests for clarification. The group, many of whose members fought alongside the government during the Tigray war, accuses federal forces of marginalizing the Amhara people.
The ongoing conflict has displaced tens of thousands and left over 2 million people in Amhara dependent on food aid for survival. The region, home to Ethiopia’s historic Orthodox churches, is one of the country’s most populous, with over 30 million residents spread across an area the size of Sweden.
As the violence continues, both sides remain entrenched in their positions, and the humanitarian crisis shows no signs of easing.
With limited access to reliable information, the full extent of the abuses remains unclear, leaving civilians caught in the crossfire.
