The security situation is degenerating in northern Ethiopia. Faced with an increase in armed fighting in recent weeks between soldiers and local militia fighters, the Ethiopian federal government declared a “state of emergency” on Friday. “It has become difficult to control this unacceptable movement with the current law,” said a statement from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office.
The press release does not indicate whether this “state of emergency” applies to the Amhara region in the north of the country, where the fighting is taking place, or to the whole country. On Thursday evening, regional authorities asked the federal government to take “measures” to restore security, citing a situation “difficult to control”.
The two adversaries yet allies between 2020 and 2022
In recent weeks, various armed clashes have pitted the army against local militia fighters in a dangerous escalation of violence. These two forces had been allied during the two years of war in the neighboring region of Tigray, between November 2020 and November 2022.
Tensions in the region began after the government announced in mid-April that it wanted to dismantle the “special forces”, paramilitary units created by many regional states over the past fifteen years. Amhara nationalists believe that the government wants to weaken their region.
On Thursday, Ethiopian Airlines said it had suspended flights to two major Amhara cities, Gondar and Lalibela, without detailing the reasons. In the latter locality, renowned for its rock-hewn churches listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites, several sources have claimed that fighters from the Amhara Fano nationalist militia seized the airport. Fighting between Fano militiamen and government forces is taking place on the outskirts of the city on Thursday, according to a resident.
Western nationals urged to avoid region
Several Western embassies, notably from Great Britain and Spain, have recommended in recent days to their nationals not to travel to the region because of the “violence” and “instability” which reigns there.
The Amhara “special forces”, supported by the Fano militias, provided crucial assistance to the federal army during the two years of armed conflict it waged against the dissident authorities of the Tigray region, neighboring Amhara .
A peace agreement put an end to this war in November 2022, but the text displeases a large part of the Amhara community, the second in number in the country.