Since July, a minimum of 183 individuals have lost their lives in conflicts within Ethiopia’s Amhara region, as confirmed by the United Nations on Tuesday. The UN has issued an appeal for a cessation of the killings, violence, and human rights violations occurring in the area.
Tensions have escalated in the northern part of the country, primarily due to the culmination of a devastating conflict in the neighboring Tigray region. This war also involved fighters from the Amhara region.
“We are very concerned by the deteriorating human rights situation in some regions of Ethiopia,” UN Human Rights Office spokeswoman, Marta Hurtado, told reporters in Geneva.
“In Amhara region, following a flare-up in clashes between the Ethiopian military and the regional Fano militia, and the declaration of a state of emergency on August 4, the situation worsened considerably.
“At least 183 people have been killed in clashes since July, according to information gathered by the UN Human Rights Office.”
Tensions in the northern region escalated significantly this year following the conclusion of a devastating conflict in the adjacent Tigray region. This war also drew involvement from fighters hailing from Amhara.
In April, the federal government made the announcement of disbanding regional forces throughout the nation. This decision led to protests by Amhara nationalists who argued that it would weaken their region.
In early July, clashes erupted between the national army and local fighters known as Fano, which prompted authorities in Addis Ababa to declare a six-month state of emergency on August 4.
This status grants the authorities extensive powers, including the ability to apprehend suspects without requiring a court order, establish curfews, and prohibit public gatherings, as mentioned by Hurtado.
“We have received reports that more than 1,000 people have been arrested across Ethiopia under this law. Many of those detained were reported to be young people of Amhara ethnic origin suspected of being Fano supporters,” she said.
“Since early August, mass house-to-house searches have reportedly been taking place.
“We call on the authorities to stop mass arrests, ensure that any deprivation of liberty is judicially reviewed, and release those arbitrarily detained.”
She added: “We call on all actors to stop killings, other violations and abuses.”
