Eleven civilians were reportedly killed by Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) on Sunday morning, 21 January, in the Gojam Quarit district of Ethiopia’s Amhara region, according to eyewitnesses who spoke to DNE Africa.
“Yesterday morning, when they gathered in the morning to bring food for the animals, Abiy’s regime forces killed them saying that you look like Fano,” local residents said.
Local residents also stated that 10 of the deceased were under the age of 15.
In a separate incident on the same day, 12 civilians were reportedly killed by Ethiopian Defence Forces in Amchaho town, Gondar Alfa Takusa district.
Following an alleged attack by Fano militants on Ethiopian forces travelling from Shahura to Delgi, the military reportedly retaliated by shooting 12 civilians in Amchaho, accusing them of providing information to Fano.
“After an attack by Fano on an Ethiopian defence force on its way from Shahura to Delgi, they shot 12 innocent people in Amchaho town in anger, saying they would give information to Fano,” local residents said.
Amhara Region conflict: Human Rights Violations
The Amhara region has been embroiled in conflict for over 18 months. The armed conflict between Ethiopian government forces and Fano, a local militia, began in April 2023.
The conflict erupted following Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s attempts to disarm Amhara special forces and Fano.
In August 2023, the Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region, placing it under military control. This measure was renewed for a further four months following its expiry in November 2023. Despite the renewed state of emergency expiring in June 2024, government operations have reportedly continued at the same intensity.
Human rights violations and atrocities allegedly committed by Ethiopian government forces in the Amhara region have been documented and reported by organisations such as Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International, international news outlets, and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission.
Reported abuses include attacks targeting schools, health centres, and private homes, as well as civilian deaths from continued drone strikes. Members of the Amhara ethnic group have reportedly been subjected to mass detention, torture, inhumane treatment, enforced disappearances, and killings.
The extent of the alleged human rights abuses has reportedly affected individuals who typically hold parliamentary immunity. Members of the Ethiopian parliament, Addis Ababa City Council, and Amhara region State Council have reportedly been arrested and detained, some taken from their homes in the middle of the night, and subjected to inhumane treatment. Due to the ongoing violence, four million children are currently out of school in the region.
