The war between the Ethiopian military forces and the Amhara regional forces in Fano is said to be intensifying.
The war broke out in the region last week, after months of protests by local residents against the Federal Government’s plan to disband the Ethiopian Regional Government Police Force.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed issued an order in April to disband the Liyu Police, and at the same time add it to the Military or Police Forces.
Since then, violent demonstrations have taken place in the country, especially in the Amharic region, and they have strongly opposed the disbanding of the 11 regions of the country.
Some Amharic politicians described this decision as one that makes the Amharic people vulnerable to attacks by neighboring authorities, and they called for the continued presence of the military-like Liyuu Police, which they described as their most important shield. Today the Amhara people have it.
The war in the region is said to be spreading to the rest of the region, as the war has led the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency.
The war is said to have greatly affected the two largest cities in the region, such as Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amharic region, and Gonder, the second largest city in the region.
The people of Gonder said that the fighting that started on Sunday in the city continued until Monday, and at the same time many people were forced to flee their homes.
Also, the people living in Bahir Dar City are reporting that a heavy battle is going on in that city.
Fano officials said that they have taken over most of Bahir Dar, although government forces are at the airport and the government television center.
Fano said that it is now in control of Debre Birhan District, an industrial center about 130 km north of Addis Ababa.
Flights to Bahir Dar, Gonder and Lalibela are said to be still suspended.
The director of the Ethiopian National Security & Intelligence Agency, Temesgen Tiruneh, who was entrusted with the implementation of the state of emergency, accused Fano of wanting to overthrow the Federal Government and the Amharic Regional Government.
The director who spoke to Fana Ethiopian News Agency admitted that Fano rebels have taken over towns and districts, although he did not name them.
Fano was an ally of the Ethiopian military during the war with the forces of the Tigray region. The Tigris are neighbors of the Amharic.
The renewed war in Northern Ethiopia is said to be the biggest challenge Ethiopia is currently facing, after the resolution of the conflict in Tigray Region was reached in November.
The war is coming, with almost four months of war going on in Ethiopia’s neighboring country of Sudan.
