Update
Ethiopia situation update (19 February 2025)
Situation update covering political violence and civilian targeting in Ethiopia from 1 to 14 February 2025.
Also available in Amharic
- 58 political violence events
- 8% decrease compared to the last two weeks
- 14 incidents of violence targeting civilians
- 0% change compared to the last two weeks
- At least 114 reported fatalities due to political violence
- 64% decrease compared to the last two weeks
ACLED is a living dataset and figures are subject to change as new information becomes available.
Clashes between the OLA/OLF-Shane and government forces drop drastically in Oromia, but violence against civilians persists
The number of armed confrontations between the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — and government forces in Oromia has decreased by 60% since 1 December, following the peace agreement signed between the Oromia regional government and the OLA/OLF-Shane faction led by Sanyi Nagasa. The decrease comes as the faction’s forces began to enter rehabilitation camps (for more, see Ethiopia Weekly Update (10 December 2024) and Ethiopia Weekly Update (17 December 2024).1
Although incidents of violence involving the OLA/OLF-Shane have notably declined in the region, political violence — especially attacks targeting civilians by various groups, including government forces — has persisted.
Civilians in Amhara face violence targeting health, transport, and education services
Civilians are bearing the brunt of armed violence in Amhara, which is having a major disruptive impact on basic services and day-to-day activities. From 1 to 14 February, ACLED records six violent events targeting civilians and seven reported fatalities.
Attacks on roads in Amhara further affect residents and travelers.
Kidnappings and attacks are also impacting the education sector. For instance, on 12 February, Fano militias abducted 13 teachers from Kore Elementary School in Kore Tenkere Kebele in North Gojam zone, demanding a ransom of up to 50,000 Ethiopian Birr for their release.
