Heavy Urban Combat Erupts in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region

Escalating violence has once again gripped Ethiopia’s tumultuous Amhara region as government troops clash with local militias, with the ancient city of Gondar becoming a focal point of intense urban combat.

The historic city of Gondar, one of the largest in the region, bore witness to fierce confrontations on Sunday when local militias known as the Fano infiltrated its streets, leading to violent clashes with government forces.

A statement released on the official Facebook page of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) confirmed these clashes, revealing that government security forces successfully repelled militia attacks, resulting in the reported death of more than 50 combatants.

Reports of ongoing fighting have emerged from various locations within the Amhara region, with activists and media outlets affiliated with the militias asserting territorial gains and the capture of numerous soldiers. However, the BBC has not independently verified these claims.

Last week, violence also erupted on the outskirts of Lalibela, another notable city in the region renowned for its historic rock-hewn churches, which included the deployment of heavy artillery.

In recent weeks, multiple drone attacks have been reported across several areas, further exacerbating the security situation.

Amidst this turmoil, an annual high-level peace conference originally scheduled for October in the region’s capital, Bahir Dar, has announced its postponement until April of the following year, citing “unforeseen circumstances.” Notably, this conference counts the African Union and the United Nations among its partners, suggesting that the decision may be linked to the ongoing insecurity in the region.

Meanwhile, the Ethiopian Human Rights Council, an independent rights watchdog, has accused the authorities of persisting in arbitrary arrests within the capital, Addis Ababa. These arrests commenced after a state of emergency was declared in August in response to the escalating violence in the Amhara region, further underscoring the challenges facing Ethiopia’s quest for peace and stability in this troubled region.