The reports of an alleged massacre in Ethiopia’s Amhara region have led to growing international concern. According to Ethiopia’s Human Rights Council (EHRC), the incident occurred as a result of intense fighting between soldiers and an armed group known as the Fano, which allegedly led to more than 80 deaths. The US Embassy in Addis Ababa called for an investigation into these reports.
It is reported that on January 29, a massacre occurred in the town of Merawi, led by forces of the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), effectively claiming about 89 lives. The National Movement of Amhara asserts that this figure has escalated beyond 125.
The US government expressed its alarm at these claims through a statement, fervently urging for an impartial investigation and unrestricted access for independent human rights monitors. The State Department’s Bureau of African Affairs echoed this sentiment, voicing its black-and-white stance against civilian violence and advocating for peaceful dialogue as a solution to Ethiopia’s multifaceted challenges.
Amhara has been a hotspot for several internal conflicts since a rebellion emerged in the northern state last year, leading to a military intervention in April 2023. This intervention has caused a significant displacement of locals and attempts to incorporate regional militias into the federal army.
The aforementioned Fano, initially allied with the ENDF in the war against the paramilitary Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), subsequently sided with the Amhara regional forces against the national military. Notably, reports of human rights abuses committed by government forces have surfaced amid this conflict, along with accusations of extrajudicial killings and targeted arrests of Amhara residents outside the region, especially in the capital, Addis Ababa. Comprehensive details can be found in this EHRC report.
Recently, the Ethiopian parliament voted to prolong the state of emergency in the Amhara region. In light of the tumultuous political environment, Gedu Andargachew, the region’s former President, has fled the country and is presently seeking asylum in Belgium.
The situation demands the urgent attention and intervention of international legal bodies and humanitarian organizations. Global governments and organizations have increasingly expressed concerns over such incidents, suggesting an immediate need for concrete measures to ensure accountability, justice, and ultimately, peace. An in-depth coverage of the situation can be found here.