The Fano forces in Ethiopia’s Amhara region have issued a public warning regarding the government’s plans to organize rallies across key cities in the region. These rallies, which are said to be orchestrated by the ruling Prosperity Party, are intended to condemn the Fano forces and call for “peace” in the region. However, the rebels have expressed significant concerns, fearing that the government may use these rallies as a means to escalate violence by targeting civilians and then blaming the attacks on the Fano forces, whom the government refers to as “extremists.”
According to the Fano, the rallies are scheduled to take place later this week, but exact details regarding the timing or locations of the events remain unclear. The Prosperity Party, which holds control over the federal government, has not released an official statement about the planned rallies. However, the rebels believe that the government might stage attacks during these events and later attribute them to the Fano forces to tarnish their cause.
The Fano forces have repeatedly emphasized that their struggle is not just a military campaign, but a popular movement borne out of genuine concerns for the survival of the Amhara people. They argue that their fight is a direct response to existential threats posed by the central government. “The battle that Fano is engaged in represents a movement that seeks to address real and pressing dangers. It is not merely a military struggle, but a fight to safeguard the interests of the Amhara people,” read part of a statement issued by the Gojjam Fano forces. The rebels insist that their cause is one of self-preservation and that it aligns with the broader demands of the local population.
Moreover, the Fano forces allege that the government is pressuring civilians to participate in these rallies. They claim that the Prosperity Party is coercing people into attending the events and publicly condemning the Fano forces. The rebels have called on residents to reject such political manipulation, stressing that participation in the rallies would amount to a betrayal of the region’s struggle.
“To heed the call of the occupying army and participate in the Prosperity Party’s political theatrics is a betrayal of the Amhara people’s existential fight,” the statement declared. The Fano also warned that individuals who take part in the rallies will be held morally and historically accountable for their actions. They emphasized that anyone involved in efforts to smear the Fano’s legitimate cause would face consequences, although the exact nature of these “appropriate measures” was not detailed.
The Fano forces have retained significant control over several key provinces in the Amhara region, including Gojjam, Gondar, Shewa, and Wollo. Despite repeated military offensives by the Ethiopian government, much of the region, particularly rural areas and smaller towns, remains under the influence of the Fano forces. Reports from local Ethiopian news sources indicate that the rebels continue to hold sway in these areas, which has allowed them to resist numerous military campaigns aimed at suppressing their movement.
For over a year and a half, the Ethiopian government has launched large-scale military operations aimed at disarming the Fano forces. However, the Fano forces have demonstrated remarkable resilience, in large part due to the widespread grassroots support they receive from the local population. The rebels are reported to have access to both material and moral support, which has enabled them to thwart numerous government attempts to crush their movement. This support from local communities is widely regarded as a key factor in the Fano forces’ ability to continue their resistance.
At present, the Ethiopian government has yet to respond directly to the allegations made by the Fano forces regarding the planned rallies and the broader political situation in the region. This silence from the government only adds to the uncertainty surrounding the situation, with tensions continuing to rise in the Amhara region.
Meanwhile, the Fano forces in Gojjam have lifted vehicle mobility restrictions that had been imposed for approximately one week. These restrictions were initially introduced in response to the Ethiopian government’s latest military operations in the region. The decision to lift the restrictions marks a shift in the security landscape in Gojjam, although the broader situation remains tense, and sporadic clashes are still taking place in other parts of the region.
Asres Mare Damtie, the political leader of the Fano forces in Gojjam, shared a message on social media this week in which he commended the effectiveness of their military operations. He noted that during the period of restrictions, the Fano forces had been able to conduct successful military operations while minimizing civilian casualties. Damtie emphasized that the strategy of the Fano forces had been to protect civilians from the brunt of the government’s military actions while maintaining pressure on the Ethiopian military.
However, in contrast to the situation in Gojjam, the Fano forces in Shewa have imposed a new set of restrictions on vehicle movement. These restrictions, which will last for three days, come in response to reports of intense fighting in the Ataye and Shewarobit areas of Shewa. These areas have witnessed significant military clashes between the Ethiopian government forces and the Fano rebels. The violence has intensified in recent days, with both sides suffering casualties. The imposition of mobility restrictions in Shewa is seen as an effort by the Fano forces to control the movement of both civilians and military personnel in the region, reducing the risk of further escalation.
The ongoing conflict in the Amhara region remains highly volatile, with both the Ethiopian government and the Fano forces locked in a prolonged and increasingly brutal struggle. While some areas, like Gojjam, may experience a temporary easing of restrictions, other regions, including Shewa, remain at the epicenter of the fighting. The situation in the Amhara region continues to evolve, and with no clear resolution in sight, the region’s future remains uncertain.
