In the Amhara region of Ethiopia, fighting between a militia group and Ethiopia's National Defense Force (ENDF) has intensified. The Fano militia, which draws volunteers from the local population, has reportedly taken control of several towns in the region.
The unrest has quickly become Ethiopia's most serious security crisis since a two-year war—from 2020 to 2022—in the Tigray region, which borders Amhara.
Several cities in the Amhara region, including the capital Bahir Dar, have witnessed violence following protests against the government's move to disband the regional special forces and integrate them into regular police and the national army.
Amhara has been experiencing repeated unrest for months, and finally, the government declared a state of emergency on August 4. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government has warned that the security crisis could cause massive social and economic damage.
Not long ago, the Amhara Fano militia and other regional security forces had fought alongside ENDF against Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) fighters.
The two-year civil war was only settled in November 2022 after Ethiopia's government signed a peace treaty with the TPLF. Nevertheless, Amhara militias continue to occupy the western Tigray region.
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