2023-08-03 10:08:34
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Violence is escalating in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, where federal security forces are fighting with a local ethnic militia, prompting the deputy prime minister to describe the situation as “increasingly dire” in a Unusually frank government statement.
Ethiopia’s second most populous region has been mired in instability since April, when federal authorities disarmed the regional Amhara force as part of recovery efforts following two years of devastating conflict in neighboring Tigray. Authorities also tried last year to dismantle the Amhara militia known as the Fano.
Although the two forces have fought alongside the feds in the conflict in Tigray, now the federal government wants to centralize security. However, many Amhara are very attached to their regional fighters and accuse the federal government of trying to undermine their region, something the authorities deny.
Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen called for dialogue on Wednesday to seek a peaceful resolution to the conflict, describing some of the concerns of the Amhara population as “understandable.”
The statement was released the day following Fano fighters clashed with federal police at Lalibela airport, a major supply point, according to two witnesses and several residents. Flights to the popular tourist destination have been suspended, according to flight tracking data.
Britain issued a travel advisory on Tuesday saying Lalibela airport was “taken over by Fano militias” and cited insecurity on the A2 highway connecting eastern Amhara to Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital.
Elsewhere in the region, residents said protesters had blocked roads and Fano militiamen were ambushing military units, while government officials had fled several towns.
A witness spoke of “heavy fighting” on Thursday in Gondar, another popular tourist town. All spoke on condition of anonymity for security reasons.
Shots were heard in Debre Tabor on Wednesday, according to a witness, who said the army had used live ammunition to disperse stone-throwing youths on Tuesday.
“Nobody trusts the government in this area,” said Tedros Abyou, a resident of Wereta, a place where regional roads intersect and where protesters had blocked the road.
An analysis by an aid agency seen by The Associated Press also reported fighting in rural areas of Western Gojjam and Northern Wollo, which had caused an unknown number of casualties.
The clashes are a new blow to Ethiopia’s recovery from the conflict in Tigray, which has also spilled over into the Amhara region and caused billions of dollars worth of infrastructure damage. A peace agreement was signed in November.
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