AFRICA/ETHIOPIA - State of emergency declared in the Amhara region

Addis Ababa (Fides News Agency) - "Declaring a state of emergency became necessary as the illegal activities of armed groups have become a menace to law and order in the region, and an obstacle to guaranteeing the rule of law", stated the office of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, in announcing the introduction of a state of emergency in the northern region of Amhara.
The Ethiopian federal government approved the measure after the president of the Amhara region, Yelikal Kefale, asked Addis Ababa for greater support to resolve the growing "insecurity" in the area.
In recent weeks armed clashes have seen the armed forces up against fighters of local militia groups in a dangerous escalation of violence. The militiamen had been allies of the lawful army throughout the two years of war in the nearby Tigray region, from November 2020 to November 2022.
Tensions started in the region after the government announced, in mid-April, that it planned to disband the paramilitary units many regional States had created over the past 15 years. Amhara nationalists fear the government is seeking to weaken the region.
In the last few weeks, the violence has concentrated in the zones of East Gojjam and North Wollo, where on August 1 the Fano militia apparently took control of the Lalibela airport. (L.M.) (Fides News Agency 4/8/2023)

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