Ethiopia declares state of emergency as clashes escalate in Amhara region

GOOBJOOG NEWS | ADDIS ABABA: The Ethiopian Federal Government Friday declared a state of emergency following days of clashes between the government forces and local armed Fano militiamen in the Ahmara region.

“It was found necessary to declare a state of emergency as it had become difficult to control this outrageous activity based on the regular legal system,” a statement by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office said.

Fighting that broke out across Ethiopia’s second-largest region earlier this week has quickly become a security crisis.

Amhara’s regional government on Thursday requested additional help from federal authorities to reimpose order.

The statement by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office announcing the state of emergency did not say whether it applied only in Amhara or across the country.

The declaration gives the government the power to ban public gatherings, make arrests without warrants, and to impose curfews.

Fano, a part-time militia with no formal command structure, backed federal troops in a two-year civil war in the neighbouring Tigray region that ended with a truce last November.