Ethiopia Weekly Update (30 July 2024)

Situation summary

Civilians continue to be victims of targeted violence by insurgent groups. Last week, Fano militias were accused of conducting violence targeting civilians in both Amhara and Oromia regions. These attacks resulted in the deaths of at least seven civilians. In the Oromia region, this violence sparked armed confrontations between the militias and security forces in North Shewa zone. 

Militants target civilians in Amhara region

In Amhara region, Fano militias reportedly took 16 civilians captive and then killed at least four of them in south Mecha woreda, West Gojam zone, accusing the victims of collaborating with the government by participating in a peace conference in Bahir Dar. Victims reportedly included the leaders of various social society organizations, including the diocese kebele leader for the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.¹ The Amhara regional government released a statement condemning the killings and said the 16 civilians were not members of the peace committee established at the end of June at a peace conference in Bahir Dar city, as the militias had claimed.² Another report indicated that the civilians had been in Bahir Dar to attend a training organized by a nongovernmental organization.³ 

Clashes continued throughout the week in Amhara region, with fighting between Fano militias and the Ethiopian National Defense Force reported in South Gondar, East Gojam, West Gojam, Central Gondar, South Wello, and North Wello zones. In Bahir Dar, authorities imposed night curfews, citing security concerns.⁴

Clashes at the border of Oromia and Amhara regions

Attacks by suspected Fano militias on Oromo communities in Dera woreda, North Shewa zone, near the border of Oromia and Amhara regions on 24 July drew a response from local kebele militias and Oromia regional police, leading to deadly clashes. Fano militias reportedly killed at least three civilians before being pushed back by Oromia security forces. 

Violence in North Shewa zone of Oromia region rose following the first round of peace talks between the government and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) — referred to by the government as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF)-Shane — failed in May 2023. The rise was connected to the OLA/OLF-Shane; however, since then, Fano militias have become involved in various activities in the area, including attacks targeting civilians and armed clashes with OLA/OLF Shane. ACLED records 14 clashes involving Fano militias in the zone since the beginning of 2024. Hence, in 2024, North Shewa zone has become one of the most violent locations in the country.

Ethiopia at a Glance

20-26 July 2024

The data cover the period from 20 to 26 July 2024. For more information about how ACLED collects data and categorizes events, see the ACLED Codebook. Some events from this coverage period might be included in the data in subsequent weeks due to reporting delays.

• Political Violence Events⁵: 39
• -11% from previous week
• Demonstration Events⁶: 0
• -100% from previous week

Event Types

Battles: 25 Events

Explosions/Remote Violence: 2 Events

Violence Against Civilians: 12 Events

Mob Violence: 0 Event

Protests: 0 Event

Violent Demonstrations: 0 Event