A clash between the Ethiopian army and rebels in the northwestern Amhara region has resulted in the deaths of at least nine people, mostly civilians.
The Fano militia, based in Amhara, is one of several regional groups fighting the federal government since it vowed to crush paramilitary forces in April 2023.
The attack occurred in the town of Debark, located about 750 kilometers from the capital Addis Ababa. According to hospital sources, between nine and ten people were killed in the fighting, including one Fano militant. Additionally, 35 people, primarily civilians, were injured.
A local official later reported that the death toll had risen to at least 20 people, mostly civilians. However, due to restrictions imposed by federal authorities, it has been difficult to accurately monitor the conflict.
The Fano militias, operating without a central command, have intensified their attacks on security forces and have managed to briefly seize several towns. Ethiopia, the second most populous country in Africa, has a complex ethnic landscape with over 80 groups that have often clashed with the central government.
The Fano initially supported the federal army against Tigrayan rebels but later felt betrayed by the peace agreement that ended the war. This conflict, which lasted from 2020 to 2022, claimed an estimated 600,000 lives and displaced millions of people.
