A new report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has revealed alarming levels of civilian harm caused by ongoing clashes between government forces and Fano fighters across Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
Covering incidents from June 2024 to May 2025, the EHRC report documents dozens of incidents involving extrajudicial killings, abductions, and indiscriminate attacks, perpetrated by both sides.
“The population has been caught in the crossfire of a conflict marked by lawlessness, retaliation, and impunity,” the EHRC said in its annual human rights assessment.
Civilians Targeted by Both Sides
The report accuses government security forces of carrying out summary executions of civilians suspected of aiding Fano forces. In Wanjela Kebele (Awii Zone), for instance, five civilians were executed by government troops after clashes on June 12, 2024.
Similarly, Fano forces were also cited for retaliatory killings, accusing local civilians of supporting the federal army. On July 22, Fano fighters abducted 17 people from South Mecha, killing four and releasing the rest for ransom.
Other major incidents include:
June 24, 2024 – Three detained Fano members reportedly executed in Adet, North Gojjam.
September 7, 2024 – At least 11 civilians killed by federal forces near Azezo Zeda Health Center, Gondar.
September 18, 2024 – Two secondary school teachers abducted and executed in Sinan District, East Gojjam.
October 3, 2024 – Military shelling in Kimir Dingay, South Gondar, killed two civilians and injured two children.
March 11, 2025 – Fano ambush killed three government officials in South Wollo.
March 20, 2025 – Fano fighters stormed Merawi, killing six civilians including four teachers.
In total, the EHRC recorded massacres, targeted killings, and large-scale displacement across Amhara’s North Gojjam, North Gondar, East Gojjam, South Gondar, North Wollo, West Gondar, and South Wollo zones.
“We are witnessing a pattern of systematic abuses driven by vengeance, mistrust, and the breakdown of law and order,” the Commission said.
Deepening Humanitarian Crisis
The report also highlights the broader humanitarian impact: homes burned, livestock looted, and families displaced. In Kuber Lomge Kebele (Chilga District) alone, seven homes were torched and 34 households displaced by Fano fighters in May 2025.
Civil society groups are calling for immediate independent investigations, accountability for war crimes, and a renewed focus on civilian protection.
Despite growing calls for de-escalation, both federal authorities and Fano leadership have remained entrenched in their positions, raising fears of prolonged instability in one of Ethiopia’s most volatile regions.
