Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
Current situation of various major cities in Amhara Region where tensions have risen over the past few days
August 19, 2024
In the days following the end of last week transportation and other services have been disrupted in major cities in Amhara Region according to residents who spoke to BBC.
The armed conflict between government forces and Fano militants in the region has passed the one year mark and various cities have not yet reached calm.
According to residents who spoke to BBC daily activities have been disrupted following “an announcement passed by Fano militants” in several cities in the region including the regional capital of Bahir Dar.
BBC has heard from residents that gunfire exchanges were heard in various cities.
Residents say the disruption of regular activities has created security concerns and impacted their daily lives.
BBC spoke to residents in Bahir Dar, Woldia, Shewa Robit and Debre Markos cities regarding the situation on Monday and the days preceding.
City residents who spoke to BBC about the situation over the past few days and today on Monday, August 19, 2024 (Nehase 13, 2016 EC) were not willing to have their names revealed out of concern for their security.
In addition, BBC’s efforts to reach regional and city officials were not successful.
Bahir Dar City
Today marks the fourth day since tensions have risen in the regional capital of Bahir Dar city.
Last Friday commercial institutions were closed following an “announcement passed by Fano militants”, and government and other service providers were closed due to security concerns according to residents who spoke to BBC.
On Friday BBC spoke to one resident who said they received five notes from persons they did not know.
The message they received said, “on Friday at 1 pm Fano will enter the city so stay indoors and cooperate, otherwise we will take no responsibility for any harm that comes to you”.
Another city resident said on Friday starting from 1 pm there were no activities and national defense force members were sighted in the city.
Prior to this, there were bomb explosions in several parts of the city according to residents who spoke to BBC.
On that day, regional officials issued a statement saying there was no need for concern in the city and that regional security forces together with the federal government would take military action and had adequate forces.
A statement from the peace and security bureau on the region's communications social media page said in relation to the bomb explosions several suspects were detained and work was underway to detain others.
However the statement did not provide details regarding the alleged bomb explosions in Bahir Dar city.
Residents who spoke to BBC said on Saturday and Sunday there was some activity of people and on Sunday afternoon after 1 pm there were exchanges of gunfire in three areas of the city.
Residents said there were gunfire exchanges involving heavy weapons near Zenzelima, Belay Zeleke Airport and Sebat Amit Correctional Facility.
One resident who said they resided in the Abay Mado area said a gunfire exchange could be heard in the Zenzelima area lasting until 2 pm and the gunfire near the airport lasted until 9 pm on Sunday night.
Today [Monday, August 20, 2024 (Nehase 13, 2016 EC)] there was some movement of three legged vehicles (bajajs), taxis and people on foot from time to time according to another resident who spoke to BBC.
Despite this, commercial institutions and government offices did not completely return to normalcy.
On Sunday there was intense gunfire in the Kebele 11 area of the city according to a resident who said “tensions are still high”.
The resident told BBC they saw national defense force and riot dispersal members moving in patrol vehicles.
Woldia City
Since the start of the war in the north, security concerns have not subsided in Woldia city, the capital of North Wollo Zone and today (Monday) transportation services had come to a half according to two residents who spoke to BBC.
The residents said starting from the morning all transportation from Woldia along the Kobo, Dessie and Gonder lines have completely stopped.
One resident who went to the bus station in the morning said vehicles traveling to other cities were not present.
“When we asked the drivers yesterday (Sunday) when they came from the direction of Mersa they said they were told by the militants ‘don't return tomorrow’, and we have seen messages posted in various areas” the resident said.
Residents explained that “Fano made an announcement” so transportation movements would stop after which movements stopped.
He said there were no movements outside of occasional bajaj and ambulance sightings.
BBC spoke to another resident who said there were no transportation services within the city or entering the city but said he did not know the reason.
The resident said, “drivers with vehicles carrying beer, fertilizer and other goods have been prohibited from traveling which has caused tension in the city.”
In Woldia city, there was fighting between Fano militants and government forces in which gunfire exchange repeatedly took place. Attacks have repeatedly taken place targeting police stations and correctional facilities in the city.
Shewa Robit
Starting from today (Monday) morning there has been no movements in Shewa Robit town of North Shewa Zone in the region, according to residents who spoke to BBC.
They said transportation services from Addis Ababa to Dessie and from Dessie to Addis Ababa have halted.
According to the residents, there has been no movement other than occasional movement from three wheeled vehicles (bajajs) and horse carts.
“When I got up in the morning I saw everything closed” said one resident, who said though banks have been open there have been no public movements.
This resident said they saw regional riot dispersal forces moving in the city.
Two other residents in the city said regular day to day activities had been disrupted, and this happened after news spread that the “Fano in Shewa Province made an announcement calling for no transportation movements starting from August 19 and 20, 2024 (Nehase 13 and 14, 2016 EC).”
Residents in the city said though there was no sound of gunfire in the city “the atmosphere was unpleasant.”
Debre Markos
Starting from August 13, 2024 (Nehase 7, 2016 EC) there was not a lot of movement in Debre Markos city in East Gojjam according to three residents who spoke to BBC.
Up until yesterday (Sunday) bajajs were moving in the city, said residents, “starting from today their movement has stopped, outside of certain government offices and banks all service providing facilities are closed.”
Residents said there were no transportation services from Addis Ababa to Bahir Dar and Bahir Dar to Addis Ababa and other cities in the woreda.
BBC spoke to two residents who said the movements came to a stop after “Fano issued a statement calling for all movements to stop starting from August 13, 2024 (Nehase 7, 2016 EC)”.
Residents said in addition to this, today (Sunday night/Monday morning) at around 12:30 am, there was an exchange of gunfire lasting 10 minutes near the correctional facility and teacher’s college for reasons they did not understand.
Another resident said today (Monday) starting from the morning there was no movement in the city, and at around 5:30 am in the morning in an area called Bole there was an exchange of gunfire lasting 30 minutes.
The resident said they were not aware of the reasons for the cessation of transportation movements or the gunfire exchange.
Residents said though there was nothing else unusual about the situation they saw riot dispersal force and national defense force members traveling in patrol vehicles and the occasional person walking on foot.
The city administration however said regular activities were underway in the city.
The current situation in the region
More than one year ago following the decision by the federal government to disarm and restructure the regional special forces in Amhara Region conflict broke out between Fano militants and government forces.
Following repeated outbreaks of fighting in various areas a significant number of civilians including children have lost their lives. In a recent report released by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission thousands of schools have not been providing educational services.
Residents have said as a result of movements in the region being hindered there have been shortages and resulting price increases for medicine and basic goods.
There have been various efforts expressed at various times to resolve the fighting however it has not yielded results.
Recently a peace council formed in the region to reconcile the Fano militants with the government told BBC the lack of a centralized Fano structure has made it impossible to carry out its purpose.
Recently Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in one meeting said “it has been some time since we began talks with armed forces in Amhara Region” he did not say anything about the talks or what stage these talks had reached.
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