The Amhara Fano National Force has declared a series of major victories over the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) in what appears to be an intensifying confrontation across the East Amhara Region’s Wollo area, underscoring the deepening instability in northern Ethiopia.
In a detailed statement released on Saturday, Fano leaders claimed that their fighters launched coordinated offensives in multiple districts, capturing nine ENDF soldiers, wounding dozens more, and seizing a significant haul of military hardware. The seized weapons reportedly include a Zu-23 anti-aircraft gun, two mortars, a DShK heavy machine gun, 47 rifles, and thousands of rounds of ammunition — a capture that could strengthen Fano’s battlefield position in the contested region.
The group detailed operations in several key locations:
• Raya Kobo, Robit City: Fighters overran a regime camp near Selasie Church, which had been closed for more than a year, reclaiming it for the first time since its closure.
• Raya Kobo, Chobi Ber: A separate assault led to the capture of another ENDF camp and the seizure of multiple weapons.
• Habru, North Wollo: Fano claimed control of Fano Arrit city following intense fighting that reportedly killed senior ENDF officers.
• Gwameda, West Wollo: Fighters attacked and overran a military camp, capturing 12 ENDF soldiers.
Amid the clashes, civilian suffering continues to mount. In a separate incident in Raya Kobo Woreda, a heavy weapon strike destroyed a family home, killing Mrs. Kimeme Adane, a mother of two, and injuring a four-year-old child. Local residents alleged the strike came from ENDF positions, stressing that Fano forces do not possess such long-range artillery.
The latest developments highlight a dramatic escalation in the ongoing confrontation between the Amhara Fano militias and Ethiopia’s federal military, with the conflict increasingly spilling into populated areas and raising fears of further civilian casualties. The situation in Amhara remains volatile, with no clear indication of de-escalation.
