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BBC Amharic – What transpired in Woldia city yesterday on Sunday night?



Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.


BBC Amharic – What transpired in Woldia city yesterday on Sunday night? 


October 14, 2024 


In Woldia city, the main city of North Wollo Zone in Amhara Region, “intense” gunfire exchange took place between government forces and Fano militants lasting hours, residents told BBC. 

On Sunday, October 13, 2024 (Tikimit 3, 2017 EC) night starting at around 8:30 pm gunfire exchange took place in the city, particularly in specific parts of the city, lasting hours said residents. 


BBC was unable to receive any information from city officials regarding casualties and property loss caused by fighting in the city. 


Fano forces operating in the area told BBC the attack was carried out specifically on “military coordination centers” belonging to government forces. 


Three residents who asked their names be withheld said “heavy fighting” took place in two parts of the city including Gonder Ber and Mechare (Woldia International Stadium area) and that camps used by government forces were located in these areas. 


On Sunday, government forces fired heavy artillery on highland areas on the periphery of Woldia say residents who also said at night Fano forces entered the city. 


One resident said, “there was gunfire near an area called flour factory (Kela/Gonder Ber) and in the Stadium area of Woldia. Over night there was heavy artillery fire. There was intense fire in both areas.” 


On Sunday night Fano forces entered the city through the Gonder Ber side and opened fire in an unexpected manner. There was regular fire from various directions” said another resident of Woldia city, who said the gunfire exchange lasted until midnight. 


There are areas called Kela and the Gonder Ber second police station. There is also a military camp in Mechare Stadium. When I saw the direction of the gunfire it appeared to target these areas” said the resident which said the Fano fighters carried out attacks on areas where government forces were “encamped”. 


The Amhara Fano in Wollo’s Public Relations Head Ato Abebe Fentaw confirmed there was fighting in the area, and said the militants carried out an attack on “military targets” before withdrawing from the city at midnight. 


Residents were able to confirm the conflict began at night and lasted until midnight but that they were not aware of what else transpired outside of the gunfire which lasted for hours. 


Over the past few days gunfire exchanges had subsided within Woldia city before resuming on Sunday, and the extent of casualties resulting from Sunday’s conflict is not yet known. 


Despite this, residents said there may be persons who were killed during the conflict between the two parties. 


There were said to be people who were hurt in an area called “Atana Tera” in the Stadium area where there was intense gunfire exchange. 


We could hear sounds of people being struck and hurt. However we do not know the extent and which side it was caused by” said one resident. 


In recent days, Woldia, the main city of North Wollo Zone, the city was under severe tension resulting from transportation restrictions including of three wheeled vehicles (bajaj), as well as harassment and arbitrary arrests. 


Following the attack on Sunday, Today, on Monday, October 14, 2024 (Tikimit 4, 2017 EC) regular activities continued according to residents who said “there is activity” in Woldia including commercial stores. 


One resident said, “it does not seem that activity has increased since it was restricted from before. Recently the situation with transportation activities being restricted has become normalized.”