Dozens of civilians have been killed by Ethiopian forces and Amhara militiamen in recent months, according to a report by the state-appointed Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC). The violence stems from a prolonged conflict in the Amhara region, Ethiopia’s second largest, which has been ongoing since mid-2023.
The clashes between the Ethiopian military and Fano, a decentralised Amhara militia, began following the conclusion of the civil war in the neighbouring Tigray region. This unrest has become Ethiopia’s most severe security crisis in recent years.
The EHRC’s findings indicate that at least 115 civilians were killed between September and December 2024, adding to the United Nations’ earlier report of 740 civilian deaths in 2023. The rights body noted that its latest report offers only a partial account of abuses due to challenging working conditions and restricted communication in the region.
In one incident, government forces reportedly detained 11 civilians in Eastern Gojjam Zone during house-to-house searches, accusing them of ties to Fano. The detainees were subsequently killed at a military camp, the EHRC stated.
Meanwhile, Fano fighters are accused of arresting 80 individuals in October, alleging they were government informants or local officials. The militia reportedly killed 38 of them in December.
Neither the federal government nor the Amhara regional administration responded to requests for comment. Fano, which lacks a unified command or official spokesperson, has denied marginalisation accusations but claims the federal government conspires against Amhara.
The conflict has displaced tens of thousands of people and left over 2 million Amhara residents dependent on food aid. The region, known for its ancient Orthodox churches, is home to more than 30 million people across an area roughly the size of Sweden.