The Amhara region of Ethiopia is experiencing severe violence, leading to the deaths of innocent civilians, such as Asbera Mohamednur, whose murder by the military exemplifies ongoing ethnic targeting. Eyewitness accounts highlight a pattern of military aggression, including drone strikes on civilian areas. The Fano militia and human rights advocates are raising concerns about the government’s actions and calling for international intervention against the rising tide of violence and discrimination against the Amhara people.
The ongoing strife within Ethiopia’s Amhara region continues to result in tragic loss of innocent lives, exemplified by the recent death of Asbera Mohamednur, a woman murdered by the Ethiopian military. Eyewitnesses recounted a horrific scene in Shoa Asager Woreda, specifically Soten Kebele, where they found her body riddled with bullets in the face and neck, while her two-year-old child remained beside her, physically unharmed yet profoundly traumatized. This occurrence is indicative of a larger trend of violence that targets the Amhara ethnic group, characterized by numerous reports of massacres, military assaults, and what many regard as ethnic cleansing. Since the conflict intensified in August 2023, frictions between federal forces and the Fano militia—self-styled protectors of the Amhara people’s grievances—have escalated. The Fano forces allege they represent the frustrations stemming from ongoing violence, displacements, and systematic discrimination faced by their ethnic community. They cite the mass arrests of Amhara individuals in the capital, Addis Ababa, as a clear example of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s oppressive policies, with families also facing intimidation while seeking information regarding detained loved ones. Recent drone strikes in regions including North Shewa have targeted civilian locales, resulting in further distress and loss of civilian life. According to the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission, there have been widespread reports of killings, physical injuries, property damage, and displacement among the civilian population in the Amhara region. Support for this has included the obstruction of essential goods, internet outages, and destruction of both civil and commercial infrastructure. Criticism of the international community’s inaction in the face of these crises has mounted from local observers, who contend that despite clear evidence of human rights violations, global institutions focused on protection appear to be inactive, permitting the violence to persist unchecked. The conflict has seen an alarming rise in extrajudicial killings, where individuals suspected of opposing the government are executed during forced searches. Furthermore, there have been mass arrests of thousands of individuals belonging to the Amhara community, frequently carried out without legal justification, overwhelming local detention facilities and engendering inadequate healthcare provisions. Amid this violence, religious persecution, particularly aimed at Christians, has also surged, with numerous incidents of church destruction and violence aimed at believers. In light of these developments, human rights advocates are calling for accountability, emphasizing that the Ethiopian government and military must be held responsible for their actions. “The world cannot stand by while innocent people are massacred for their ethnicity. Sanctions and international pressure must be applied to stop the violence and protect the Amhara people,” asserted one witness. The haunting image of Mohamednur’s child left alongside his deceased mother highlights the urgent need for justice and action to support the affected population. In October, Amnesty International reported that Ethiopia’s military has engaged in widespread arbitrary detentions, implicating hundreds of individuals, including academics, since the escalation of hostilities began.
The conflict in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has escalated dramatically since August 2023, when fighting began between the federal government and the Fano militia. The Fano group emerged as a response to ongoing grievances concerning violence, systemic discrimination, and ethnic targeting of the Amhara people. This latest violence showcases a troubling trend of military aggression against civilians, where various modern warfare tactics, including drone attacks, are deployed against predominantly civilian locations. Despite the complexity of this conflict, the voices of those directly impacted are largely drowned out by international indifference, leading to a need for urgent humanitarian intervention.
The tragic death of Asbera Mohamednur and the lingering trauma experienced by her child serve as poignant reminders of the human cost of the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region. As violence persists and reports of severe human rights abuses mount, the call for international engagement and accountability grows ever more critical. The urgent need for protective measures and advocacy for the Amhara people cannot be overstated, as the world watches in silence while atrocities continue to unfold.
Original Source: www.dailynewsegypt.com
