Ethiopia’s government has lost control of several districts and towns in the Amhara region to local militia fighters. The informal Amhara militia known as Fano is now in control of the historic towns of Gondar and Lalibela, according to residents who spoke to Daily News Egypt. The Ethiopian government declared a state of emergency on Friday in the Amhara region, following ongoing clashes between government forces and Fano. Last week, Ethiopia’s Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen described the ongoing security situation in the region as “concerning” and called for a peaceful resolution of the conflicts. Nega, an Ethiopian journalist and leading opposition figure in the Amhara region, who has been detained under several Ethiopian governments, was released from prison in February 2023.

Source: Ethiopian News August 07, 2023 15:49 UTC