By Oyintari Ben
Following days of fighting between the military and local Fano militiamen in the Amhara region, Ethiopia’s government declared a state of emergency on Friday.
This week’s fighting in the second-largest area of Ethiopia has swiftly turned into a security issue. On Thursday, the regional government of Amhara asked the federal government for more assistance to restore order.
The announcement of the state of emergency by the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed did not specify whether it applied nationwide or just to the Amhara region.
The statement read: “It had become difficult to control this outrageous activity based on the regular legal system. It was found necessary to declare a state of emergency.”
The declaration gives the government the authority to impose curfews, prohibit public meetings, and make arrests without warrants.
Fano was a crucial partner of the military (ENDF) during a two-year civil war that concluded in the adjoining Tigray province last November. However, the alliance has deteriorated due to recent moves by federal authorities to suppress local paramilitary organisations.
According to two residents who reported it on Friday, Gondar, the second-largest city in Amhara, was the scene of fierce fighting.
“ENDF initially had control of the university, but Fano drove them back. One person claimed that despite their best efforts, they could not reach the city’s centre.
The other, a local representative, claimed that the military had left the institution but did not explain why. Both requested anonymity for security reasons.
Under the exact condition of secrecy, a Fano member claimed that the militiamen were attempting to encircle Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara people. He said they had taken Merawi, a town located 30 kilometres (18 miles) south of Bahir Dar.
Requests for comment from an ENDF official were not immediately acknowledged.
According to locals, mobile internet service was still unavailable in the area. According to a spokeswoman for the airline, Ethiopian Airlines (ETHA.UL) has cancelled flights to three of the four Amhara airports it serves.
In April, after Abiy ordered the fusion of security personnel from Ethiopia’s 11 regional governments into the national police or army, violent protests broke out throughout Amhara.
According to protesters, the directive was intended to weaken Amhara and make it more open to invasions from nearby districts. The federal administration rejected this and stated that maintaining national unity was the goal.
