Another clash in Africa, Ethiopia Ignites again!

On Friday, 4 August 2024, Ethiopia’s government declared a state of emergency, the clashes were witnessed between military and FANO militias. This also links the remnants of the Tigray War which were from 3 November 2020 to 3 November 2022. The war was fought by the Ethiopian government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front(TPLF).

Well, the fighting broke out in the region of Amhara, the point of the Tigray War as well which is also the second largest religion in Ethiopia. The regional government has sought help since the situation is uncontrollable on the ground. Interestingly, the FANO was the ally of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces(ENDF) during the civil war but with time the relations soured to a great extent.

Fano has tried to besiege Bahir Dar the capital of Amhara and has captured the town Merawi. Telecommunication signals were down and Ethiopian Airlines have cancelled their flights to Amhara which include places like Lalibela, and Gondar.

ETHIOPIAN TIGRAY WAR

Fano is a part-time militia group with no proper hierarchy and order. Protestors assumed that the order was meant to strike Amhara but the federal government has denied such claims.

Africa’s second most populous country has seen a long conflict of Civil War for two years, especially in the region of Amhara which has the largest inland body of Ethiopia. The Amhara people historically had a militant, expansionist government as well.

The war had devastating repercussions where thousands were left dead, and more than two million people faced famine conditions. Mr. Abiy Ahmed, the Prime Minister of Ethiopia had asked citizens to start preparing to oppose the Tigrayan offensive at that time.

Ahmed has always been seen to break the power of TPLF which has ruled the country for around three decades. Things soared when the Tigrayan offensive asked to hold a parliamentary election in defiance of Mr. Abiy Ahmed.

What UN said?

According to the UN, there was a series of multiple massacres including ethnic cleansing and sexual violence. ENDF was also accused of committing war crimes and multiple killings, in areas including Bora, Chenna, Kobo, Mai Kadra etc.

Around more than 300000 people were killed and war rape became common, according to reports girls were raped aged from 8 to 72.

Ethiopia was a more stable country during the presidency of Meles Zenawi, around 9.4 million required urgent assistance in Northern Ethiopia, Eritrea also helped the local government.

Till December 2021, 210 metric tons of medical and grain/nutritional supplies arrived in Tigray, In the war region itself around 750000 were at risk of famine.

Human Rights Watch accused the rebels from Tigray of executing civilians with the aim of ethnic cleansing. Ethiopia and the United States were under great strain at the moment.

Abiy was accused of repressing the press in the areas and being strict against the journalists.

EXECUTION AND BRUTALITY

Addis Ababa tried to control the area and the UN reported that it had 100 food trucks at the earliest. After winning many offensives Ahmed returned to Addis Ababa and the Committee to protect journalists listed Ethiopia as a jailer of journalist country.
He said Ethiopian people are proud of their army’s heroism, during the conflict the United Arab Emirates, Turkey and Iran supplied the country with drones.

The demonstration of drones also confirmed that the problem in Tigray was internalized with the help of various countries.
This also cites the conflicts in Libya, Armenia and Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh.