Residents reported that the Ethiopian army retook control of Lalibela on Thursday, as a regional militia withdrew after its fighters had seized much of the historic town a day earlier.
Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site celebrated for its ancient rock-hewn churches, has experienced recurrent clashes this year between the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and Fano.
Despite Fano, a “self-defense” militia hailing from the Amhara region, having collaborated with federal troops during the two-year conflict in neighboring Tigray, tensions escalated when Addis Ababa declared in April its intention to disband regional forces throughout Ethiopia.
On Wednesday morning, the most recent clashes erupted, culminating in Fano ultimately taking control of a significant portion of Lalibela, as reported by residents.
However, on Thursday, a resident reported that Fano fighters had departed overnight, and the ENDF now has control of the city.
Another resident corroborated the narrative, stating, “Until early morning, Fano controlled most of the town. When we woke up, Fano were finishing leaving the town.”
“I can see ENDF deployed in the streets,” he added.
Both individuals spoke to media on the condition of anonymity and mentioned that, as of Thursday, they had neither heard nor witnessed any renewed clashes.
Lalibela witnessed intense battles on Wednesday, as federal forces were reportedly pushed back to a base on the outskirts of the town, according to residents.
Independent verification of the situation on the ground in Amhara is challenging, as media access to the region is severely restricted.
In early August, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government declared a six-month state of emergency following the outbreak of fighting in Amhara, sparking concerns about Ethiopia’s stability just months after a peace deal concluded the devastating Tigray war.