EPO Weekly: 8-14 October 2022

By the Numbers: Ethiopia, 2 April 2018-14 October 2022¹

• Total number of organized violence events: 3,477
• Total number of reported fatalities from organized violence: 20,015
• Total number of reported fatalities from civilian targeting: 8,857

By the Numbers: Ethiopia, 8-14 October 2022²

• Total number of organized violence events: 30
• Total number of reported fatalities from organized violence: 90
• Total number of reported fatalities from civilian targeting: 50

Ethiopia data are available through a curated EPO data file as well as the main ACLED export tool.

Situation Summary

Last week, battles continued in Amhara and Tigray regions, with Oromia region also seeing some continued volatility. On 10 October, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces, Samri youth militia, and Qemant and Gumuz ethnic militias clashed with the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), Amhara regional special forces, and Amhara militias in Jebers Kara area and Bere and Sharo mountains in Metema woreda in Amhara region. The government forces reportedly regained control of some strongholds held by the TPLF and its affiliated armed groups in these areas. Moreover, two landmines assumed to be planted by the TPLF exploded last week in Kalim and Werke in Raya Kobo woreda in North Wello zone. In Kalim, one person was reportedly killed and four others were wounded, while an unknown number of civilians were injured in Werke.

Armed clashes continued to be reported in Tigray region. Last week, TPLF forces clashed with the ENDF and Eritrean Defence Forces (EDF) around Dedebit and Adiyabo in North Western Tigray zone (see map below). Additionally, the TPLF stated that on 9 October, the EDF had launched an “extensive offensive” towards “Rama, Zalambessa and Tserona fronts” in northeastern Tigray (Twitter @TigrayEAO, 10 October 2022). It was also reported that government forces clashed with TPLF forces in Merewa, Waja, Semiza, Jemedo, Meharmar, and Mahgo areas in Raya Alamata in Southern Tigray zone, regaining control of these areas following the clashes.

Last week, on 9 October, the TPLF called on all residents of Tigray to take part in the war (BBC Amharic, 10 October 2022). This week, on 17 October, the government stated that due to “repeated and grave violation of Ethiopia’s airspace by hostile foreign actors supporting the TPLF,” the government forces are taking “defensive measures” and that it is “imperative that the Government of Ethiopia assumes immediate control of all airports, other federal facilities, and installations” in Tigray (Twitter @FdreService, 17 October 2022). ...