By Giulia Paravicini and Dawit EndeshawNAIROBI/ADDIS ABABA (Reuters) – Fresh fighting between the Ethiopian army and a local militia in the northern Amhara region has raised concerns among residents for the safety of historic rock-hewn churches in the holy town of Lalibela. Fano militiamen over-ran Lalibela and Gondar, the second-biggest city in the Amhara region, for several days in August in Ethiopia’s most serious security crisis since a two-year civil war in neighbouring Tigray ended a year ago. One said the Ethiopian army started fighting on Saturday and was stationed outside Lalibela and by the airport, firing heavy weapons towards the mountain overlooking the town. Lidetu Ayalew, an Amhara politician based in the United States who grew up near Lalibela, said he feared the churches could be struck and destroyed. “The churches risk being struck and destroyed due to careless firing of heavy weapons,” he said in a statement on Monday.

Source: Ethiopian News November 07, 2023 11:34 UTC