US Voices Concerns Over Escalating Unrest in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region

The political climate in Ethiopia’s Amhara state has raised eyebrows in the United States, sparking significant concerns about the escalating conflict in the region—concerns expressed by none other than America’s chief diplomat late on Monday.

The Fano, a militia group part of the Amhara ethnic group, which holds the title of Ethiopia’s second-largest ethnicity, is a curious player in this drama. Around April 2023, driven by the government’s attempt to disarm regional forces, the Fano picked up their arms, embracing a role they’ve played for a long time—protectors of their people.

In August 2023, the Ethiopian government responded with a heavy hand, proclaiming a state of emergency for this region where about 23 million folks call home. This emergency measure ran its course in June, yet the dust hardly settled. September saw the federal government strengthening its muscle with a notable deployment of troops.

In the wake of a high-profile phone chat between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Blinken let his worries spill, pointing out the ballooning violence hitting Amhara and emphasizing the pressing need for some heartfelt political chinwag to tackle Ethiopia’s patchwork of internal skirmishes.

Blinken and Abiy delved into the “rising tensions” gripping the area, a point shared by State Department spokesman Matt Miller in a dispatch.

Tensions between Ethiopia and its neighbor, Somalia, have taken a nosedive, all thanks to a tricky January deal cooked up by Abiy. This deal, struck with a rebellious Somali region, handed Ethiopia a chunk of coastline—needless to say, it rubbed Mogadishu the wrong way.

Somalia slapped the deal with the “illegal” tag, choosing to snuggle up closer to Egypt, Ethiopia’s historical frenemy.

Not too long ago, Abiy had a hearty chat with Parliament, during which he was quite clear about keeping Ethiopia out of any war-like shenanigans.

Let’s not forget Ethiopia carries a heavy title as the continent’s second most populous nation, home to roughly 120 million souls. They lost those salty sea views back in 1993 when Eritrea marked its independence.

Edited by: Ali Musa

alimusa@axadletimes.com

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