NAIROBI, April 15 (Reuters) - Ethiopia has disbanded its regional special forces, the head of its national army said on Saturday, days after violent protests in the Amhara region over the planned integration of its forces. Field Marshal Berhanu Jula, head of the Ethiopian National Defence Forces, said the special forces now cease to exist and its officers would join regional police, federal police or the federal army. "Now we only have ... the national defence, federal police, regional regular police and regional militias. Amhara's forces backed Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's federal troops against rebellious forces in northern Tigray in 2020. Ahmed says the integration of the regional special forces is needed to ensure national unity in a country with a long history of inter-ethnic conflict.

Source: Ethiopian News April 15, 2023 18:23 UTC