The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) reported on Tuesday that at least 45 civilians have been killed by federal security forces in the troubled Marawi region of Ethiopia. The state-run but independent body made the assertion that these civilians were purportedly slain due to affiliations with the ethnic Amhara armed group, also known as Fano. This claim has emerged amidst escalating tensions in the region.
The EHRC cautioned that the number of civilian lives harmed by government officials acting outside the law could be more significant than the reported figure. Meanwhile, the commission’s attempts to investigate this alleged incident have been hindered by a lack of response from involved parties.
Emerging as a resistance group in 2015, Fano aims to combat the purported genocide against the Amhara people. The group was a critical ally to the federal forces, specifically the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), during the war against the Tigray Peoples Liberation Front (TPLF). However, following the civil war’s end, the central government, led by Ethiopian President Abiy Ahmed, severed ties with Fano.
After the civil war in 2022, Fano faced further challenges as they were not involved in the peace treaty negotiations. The disregard for Fano, coupled with subsequent federal actions against its affiliates, instigated unrest. Ahmed’s decree in April 2023 to integrate every regional military group into the federal military ignited a fresh conflict as Fano perceived their influence waning.
Recently, Human Rights Watch expressed a pressing need for the international community and the UN to maintain pressure on the Ethiopian government to “ensure justice to the victims of conflict” amidst ongoing strife. Echoing these concerns, the US also urged for an investigation into the alleged civilian murders in the Amhara region.