The Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF), a prominent political entity representing the Amhara ethnic group in Ethiopia, has publicly welcomed a recent statement issued by the United States Embassy in Addis Ababa regarding the ongoing conflict that has devastated parts of the country. The group appreciated U.S. Ambassador Ervin Massinga’s continued diplomatic engagement amid what the AFNF describes as a grave and worsening humanitarian and security crisis. Fano reaffirmed its unyielding commitment to opposing what it characterizes as a genocidal campaign orchestrated by the Abiy Ahmed-led Prosperity Party regime targeting the Amhara people.
The AFNF, which represents the vast majority of the Amhara Fano self-defense forces, underscored that the group’s decision to take up arms came only after decades of peaceful advocacy and protest had failed to halt the escalating violence against Amhara civilians. In an official statement released on May 23, 2025, Fano commended the U.S. Embassy’s reaffirmation of the urgent need for lasting, sustainable solutions to the conflict—solutions that prioritize the protection of civilian lives, uphold the dignity of all Ethiopians, and ensure their well-being in the face of ongoing atrocities. The AFNF also expressed its support for the embassy’s emphasis on addressing the acute humanitarian crisis gripping the country, including restoring vital access to education, healthcare, and essential services, concerns that resonate deeply with the harsh realities faced by countless civilians in the Amhara Region.
The statement was strongly critical of the Ethiopian government’s use of aerial and drone attacks in the Amhara Region, which the AFNF alleges have been carried out indiscriminately, resulting in the deaths of thousands of civilians and widespread destruction. Fano highlighted that schools, health centers, marketplaces, religious institutions, and residential areas have been deliberately targeted, inflicting deep trauma on survivors and destroying critical infrastructure. The group welcomed Ambassador Massinga’s call for urgent accountability, urging the international community to increase pressure on the Ethiopian government to halt these operations and to hold those responsible for the violence accountable.
The AFNF also echoed the embassy’s alarm over the deteriorating human rights conditions across Ethiopia, detailing a litany of abuses including systematic genocide, ethnic cleansing, forced displacement, weaponized sexual violence, arbitrary arrests, torture, and the use of man-made famine as a weapon of war—all disproportionately impacting the Amhara population. Fano described these acts not only as war crimes and crimes against humanity but as manifestations of a sustained genocidal campaign that has persisted for decades, citing incidents in regions such as Welkait Tegede Setit Humera, Raya, Dera, Metekel, and other Amhara-majority districts annexed to neighboring regional states.
In recounting the history of the conflict, the AFNF stressed that their armed resistance was not a decision made lightly or prematurely. Rather, it was a last resort after peaceful protests and political efforts to end the violence and injustice were consistently met with brutal repression. The group referenced the mass protests that swept more than 30 cities and towns across the Amhara Region in April 2023, which called for an end to the genocide targeting their communities. These demonstrations were reportedly met with lethal force by government security forces, with scores of unarmed protesters killed, and culminated in the Ethiopian government declaring a military operation explicitly against the Amhara people.
Addressing the perception that the AFNF lacks clear objectives or realistic goals, Fano vehemently rejected such assertions. They argued that no objective could be more legitimate or pressing than the survival of a people facing existential threats. The AFNF described itself as a broad-based movement, comprising citizens from diverse walks of life—including farmers, teachers, medical professionals, university lecturers, journalists, and others—who have taken up arms not by choice but from a moral imperative to protect their communities from systematic annihilation. The group maintained that the Ethiopian state, rather than acting to prevent violence, is the principal perpetrator of the atrocities they face.
Despite the ongoing hostilities, the AFNF reiterated its commitment to a peaceful political resolution. They stressed that sustainable peace in Ethiopia would require a transitional political framework and an inclusive national dialogue genuinely representative of the country’s diverse ethnic groups and political voices. Fano called upon the United States and the international community to support efforts toward inclusive governance and justice. They urged Washington to employ all appropriate diplomatic tools, including targeted sanctions, to pressure the Ethiopian government to end violence and facilitate a credible transition.
In outlining what it views as essential conditions for advancing peace, the AFNF detailed several preconditions aimed at building trust and laying a foundation for a negotiated settlement in the Amhara Region. These include an immediate cessation of all military hostilities, the withdrawal of federal and allied forces including the Ethiopian National Defense Force from Amhara territory, and the dismantling of Prosperity Party offices. The group insists on the dismissal of all political and security officials associated with the current administration in the region, to be followed by a peaceful transfer of authority to a transitional administration mediated by Fano leadership.
The AFNF also called for unrestricted access to the region by international human rights organizations, including a United Nations-mandated investigative team empowered to conduct thorough, impartial investigations into human rights violations and war crimes. The group stressed that such investigations must be followed by concrete accountability measures to bring perpetrators to justice. Additionally, Fano demanded the immediate and unconditional release of all Amhara political prisoners, as well as family members of Fano members currently detained or held hostage by the government.
Further demands include the restoration of telecommunications, electricity, water, banking, and public services throughout the Amhara Region, removal of transportation restrictions within the region and to neighboring areas including the federal capital Addis Ababa, and the unhindered passage of humanitarian aid. The AFNF highlighted the urgent need to deliver adequate nutrition, shelter, medical supplies, and other essential provisions to communities affected by conflict and displacement.
The group also called for formal recognition of the long-standing genocide targeting the Amhara people, including official acknowledgment of atrocities that constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity during the ongoing war. The statement further requested formal recognition of contested identity and border demarcations in Amhara-majority districts annexed to neighboring regions, along with the repatriation of displaced populations to their homes. Protecting the human and legal rights of Amhara communities and their properties throughout Ethiopia was emphasized as a fundamental requirement.
The AFNF concluded by reaffirming its commitment to abiding by international humanitarian and human rights law. The group asserted that since the outbreak of the conflict, its forces have exercised discipline and restraint to minimize harm to civilians and have adhered to proper treatment of prisoners of war. They framed their struggle as grounded in fundamental legal and moral principles and expressed openness to constructive engagement with the U.S. government and other international partners. Fano welcomed opportunities for continued dialogue on their policy commitments and vision for a peaceful, democratic Ethiopia beyond the current crisis.
The Ethiopian federal government has yet to respond publicly to the AFNF’s statement. The conflict in Ethiopia, which involves multiple armed groups and government forces, has led to tens of thousands of deaths, displacement of millions, and widespread destruction since it escalated several years ago. International human rights organizations have repeatedly documented abuses and called for increased international pressure to end the violence, ensure accountability, and facilitate humanitarian access.
The recent statement from the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa reiterated the urgent need for a durable peace and an end to hostilities, emphasizing the protection of civilians and restoration of essential services throughout Ethiopia. It also reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting Ethiopia’s long-term stability, peace, and democratic development.
