BBC Amharic – An offensive by Fano forces left officials killed in South Gonder Zone according to the zonal administration
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BBC Amharic – An offensive by Fano forces left officials killed in South Gonder Zone according to the zonal administration
March 21, 2026 (Megabit 12, 2018 EC)
An offensive by Fano forces on “officials and the security structure” under South Gonder Zone of Amhara Region left an undisclosed number of officials killed according to the zonal administration.
BBC spoke to a source within the South Gonder Zone administration who said at least five officials were killed including high-ranking woreda administrators.
Over one month ago an attack was carried out on state assets in the South Gonder Zone capital of Debre Tabor, and on March 18, 2026 (Megabit 9, 2018 EC) another attack was carried out on the state apparatus in South Gonder Zone.
Yesterday on the night of March 20, 2026 (Megabit 11, 2018 EC) the zonal administration issued a statement stating that the militants which it described as “mischievous forces” initiated “fighting in Nefas Mewcha and Hamusit.”
The militants’ offensive “targeted state officials and the security structure” while they were “at work” in Lay Gayint, Wegeda and Dera Woredas and in the two cities. It was cited that the militants’ offensive was carried out by militants “gathered from various areas.”
A source from within the zonal administration told BBC the attack that day began at around 6 am in the morning.
Since last month the National Defense Force began withdrawing from areas of the zone recalled the source, explaining that the remaining security forces were regional riot dispersal, police and militias.
Since the National Defense Force “were not present, the militants inflicted losses on the other security personnel before withdrawing.”
The Fano forces operated in “Tach Gayint and Simada” Woredas said the source, and in the current attack the militants advanced to Nefas Mewcha and Hamusit towns which were said to have relatively “strong security force presence.”
The South Gonder Zone administration in its statement indicated there were killed officials stating, “our heroes did not surrender to traitors and puppets saying, ‘we will not run leaving behind our people’ before accepting martyrdom like that of Emperor Tewodrose.”
The officials “died with honor, standing for their vows of loyalty made to their people.” The zonal statement did not mention the number of officials killed or their rankings.
A source from the zone who spoke to BBC on their end said the attack this week left at least five officials killed to their knowledge.
Dera Woreda main administrator Ato Istibel Guadie, Dera Woreda Prosperity Party office head Ato Fentahun Dires and the woreda police commander were killed, they said. The Simada Woreda administrator and Hamusit town mayor were also named among the dead.
BBC was unable to independently verify that these officials were killed. Efforts to obtain additional information from the South Gonder Zone and woreda administrations were unsuccessful.
After the militants entered the towns to carry out the attack they withdrew according to the source, after which National Defense Force personnel were deployed to areas in Lay Gayint Woreda.
He said due to militant activity at this time, officials from Simada, Lay Gayint, Tach Gayint, Dera Ibnat and Meketewa Woredas as well as Hamusit town are “in the zonal capital city of Debre Tabor.”
In South Gonder Zone “there are over seven towns and 13 woredas, among them state security forces are present in Fogera, Wereta, Libo Kemkem and Addis Zemen. National Defense Forces entered Gayint Woreda and Nefas Mewcha.”
In its statement from yesterday the South Gonder Zone administration stated that the militants “were working to abduct and kill civilians to deny leadership to the public and to create lawlessness.”
It also stated, “severe law enforcement measures will be undertaken to restore peace and to remove anti-peace groups from the area.”
BBC was unable to verify video footage and photographs which emerged in connection with recent developments.
On Wednesday the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) issued a statement announcing that the offensives across Nefas Mewcha, Kimir Dingaye, Gasagn and Hamusit towns resulted in the capture of a vast quantity of heavy and small firearms and vehicles, in addition to the killing and capture of a large number of state security forces.
However outside of the killing of local administrative officials, no comment was provided by state authorities regarding losses among the Fano.
Fano forces which operate in Amhara Region had conducted an offensive last February in the zonal administrative center of Debre Tabor which led destruction not seen since July 2023.
The attack resulted in damages to over 20 buildings and vehicles from kebele administrative offices to zonal administrative offices according to information gathered by BBC.
