[AFRICANEWS] The Æthiopian government announced on Wednesday that major towns in the northern Amhara region had been "liberated", after several days of deadly fighting between the federal army and local militias.Residents interviewed by AFP also reported the advance of Æthiopian forces.
The General Directorate of the State of Emergency, a government body, later claimed that six major Amhara towns had been "freed from the threat of bandidos": the regional capital Bahir Dar, Lalibela, Gondar, Shewa Robit, Debre Berhan and Debre Markos. A curfew has been imposed in all six towns.
No official figures on the fighting have been released, but two doctors in Bahir Dar and Gondar reported that many non-combatants were killed or maimed.
The government declared a state of emergency for six months on Friday, following an upsurge in violence in this part of Africa's second most populous country, just nine months after the end of a devastating conflict in the neighbouring region of Tigray.
Amhara troops, including regional "special forces" and the nationalist Fano militia, were key allies of the government during the war between November 2020 and November 2022.
But they have been at odds with the federal authorities since April, after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced his intention to disband these "special forces", paramilitary units created by many regional states over the last fifteen years. Amhara nationalists see this as a move to weaken their region.
After several days of festivities, however, federal forces appear to have repelled the fighters. On Tuesday evening, the Amhara government announced the return of "relative peace and stability", and on Wednesday, the General Directorate of the State of Emergency stated that federal forces were "in the process of dispersing" the militia fighters.
As access to the region is restricted, it is not possible to independently verify the situation on the ground.
Ethiopia: army advances in Amhara - authorities
[AFRICANEWS] The Æthiopian army was regaining ground on Wednesday against militias in the Amhara region, according to residents interviewed by AFP, after the local government on Tuesday evening spoke of a return to "relative peace".
The national airline Æthiopian Arlines announced that it would resume flights to the regional capital Bahir Dar and Gondar on Thursday. Services to the other two airports, Lalibela and Dessie, remain suspended.
Amhara, a region in northern Æthiopia, has been under a state of emergency since Friday due to the deadly festivities taking place there, only nine months after the end of a devastating conflict in the neighboring Tigray region.
Amhara forces, including the nationalist Fano militia, were key allies of the government during this war between November 2020 and November 2022.
But tensions have emerged since April after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced his intention to disband the "special forces", paramilitary units created by many regional states over the past fifteen years. Amhara nationalists believe that the government wants to weaken their region.
After several days of festivities, federal forces appear to be regaining ground in several parts of the region.
In a statement issued on Tuesday evening, the Amhara government claimed that "relative peace and stability" had returned, maintaining that the army had taken "appropriate action" against "extremist groups".
Residents contacted by AFP on Wednesday said Fano fighters had been pushed back in Gondar and Lalibela, a Unesco World Heritage site famous for its ancient rock-hewn churches.
"Things seem to be changing today," said Gondar tuktuk driver Simachew: "The ENDF (army) has taken control of most parts of the city after heavy fighting in recent days."
"The engagement has been supported by tanks and armored vehicles, which are still in the city", he continued, claiming that "the Fano have been pushed back into just one area of the city", where fighting is "still ongoing".
In Lalibela, "the Fano have left the town and are in the forest", said Ayalew, a local resident, adding that there was no movement in the town. "We can only hear the sound of heavy artillery fire", he added.
With access to the area restricted, it is not possible to independently verify the situation on the ground.