The Amhara Association of America (AAA) expressed grave concern over reports of widespread attacks and abuses targeting civilians in various cities across the Amhara Region, Addis Ababa and surrounding areas.
These incidents reportedly occurred in connection with the observance of religious traditions by followers of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church (EOTC) during the Timket (Epiphany) holiday.
The Amhara Association of America alleges that the Abiy Ahmed-led Oromo Prosperity Party (OPP) regime’s armed forces carried out extrajudicial killings, physical assaults, arbitrary arrests, enforced disappearances, and destruction of private property related to the Timket celebrations.
These alleged abuses were reported in Addis Ababa and various towns and cities across the Amhara Region, including Bahir Dar, Gonder, Woldia, Debre Markos, Bure and Dembecha. In numerous cases, young people were reportedly rounded up en masse and taken to undisclosed detention facilities, accused of singing songs or chants praising prominent Fano leaders.
One of the most serious reported incidents occurred in Amchiwiha Kebele (near Delgi town) in the Alefa district of the Central Gonder Zone in the Amhara Region on Jan. 20, 2025. The AAA claims that OPP regime forces massacred at least 36 civilians using indiscriminate heavy artillery fire.
“AAA strongly condemns these horrific attacks and abuses against civilians observing a religious holiday. However, these abuses are just the latest in a broader pattern of impunity by the OPP regime,” the AAA said in a statement.
The AAA stated that it recorded 5,052 civilian casualties, including 3,935 deaths and 1,117 injuries, allegedly inflicted by OPP regime forces between Aug. 4, 2023, and Dec. 30, 2024. They believe these figures represent a small fraction of the true extent of the casualties.
Amhara Association of America slams identity-based persecution
The Amhara Association of America expressed concern over what they describe as long-standing patterns of identity-based atrocities and persecution, particularly against ethnic Amharas, and the hindering of religious freedoms in Ethiopia under the OPP regime. They warned that this could negatively affect peace, freedom and stability in the wider region.
The Amhara Association of America called for the immediate and unconditional release of all those arbitrarily detained for their identity or political views and a cessation of hostilities against the Amhara population.
They also urged the international community to take action against the OPP regime for what they allege is ongoing genocide against the Amhara people.
