Summary of Amhara War Updates for May 2025

Disclaimer: AAA is a U.S. based NGO that documents human rights violations in the context of conflict, violence and political repression. One of AAA's core activities is also to educate policymakers, journalists, researchers and other stakeholders with up-to-date information on developments in Ethiopia. AAA does not endorse any political parties or organizations based in the U.S. or Ethiopia.

Updated June 2nd, 2025

Overview

Between May 1st and 31st, 2025, AWU recorded battle events and human rights incidents across 113 distinct woreda/city administrations in 17 zonal administrations in 4 regions (Amhara, Oromia, Central Ethiopia and Addis-Ababa city).

The month of May marked intense fighting with significant military casualties and shifting control in several strategic areas. This month was marked by the announcement of consolidation of the major sub-regional commands of the Amhara Fano self-defense force and large-scale military operations both from the Fano and the Oromo Prosperity Party regime's joint armed forces.

Over the reporting period, AWU reported 272 battle events across 102 woreda/city administrations in 15 zonal administrations across 2 regions (Amhara and Oromia) resulting in:

🔵 3,611 regime casualties;

🔵 126 Fano casualties and

🔵 78 civilian casualties (combat-related).

Over the reporting period, AWU reported 90 human rights incidents across 66 woreda/city administrations in 21 zonal administrations across 4 regions (Amhara, Oromia, Central Ethiopia and Addis-Ababa city) resulting in:

⭕️ 177 civilians killed;

⭕️ 85 civilians injured;

⭕️ 44 cases of CRSV;

⭕️ 619 abductions and

⭕️ 187 arrests.

While the majority of human rights incidents implicated OPP regime forces, other perpetrators included the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Qemant militants and Argobba militants.