Mereja.Forum

[Za-Ilmaknun]

An airstrike on a busy town square in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has killed at least 26 people, in the latest instance of violence in Ethiopia’s second-biggest state, where militia have been fighting the army.

The attack occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning in Finote Selam, a town in Amhara’s West Gojjam zone, a local doctor told the Guardian.
Hospital officials told the Guardian that 26 people had died and at least 50 others were wounded, making the attack one of the deadliest single episodes since violence erupted across Amhara in early August.

Fano militia have seized control of several towns across Amhara, raising fears of another war in northern Ethiopia, just nine months after a ceasefire ended a brutal two-year conflict in the neighbouring Tigray region.

The militia sprung inmates from prison, trashed government offices and looted weapons from police stations. The government responded by declaring a state of emergency and turning off the internet.

Tanks rolled through major towns, including the regional capital, Bahir Dar, and artillery was used in civilian neighbourhoods. In several places, the security forces fired on people who were blocking roads. The authorities have not commented on how many civilians were killed.
This month’s unrest prompted the state carrier, Ethiopian Airlines, to suspend flights, and foreign governments warned their residents to shelter in place as regional government officials and members of parliament fled.

On Friday, the UK and US, among other countries, said they were concerned by the violence and urged a peaceful solution. The World Health Organization and Save the Children have warned the violence is disrupting humanitarian operations in Amhara.
The state-appointed human rights commission said on Monday that it has received credible reports of civilian deaths this month. It also said there had been “widespread arrests of civilians who are of ethnic Amhara origin” under the emergency rules in Addis Ababa, the capital.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/ ... lls-people