On June 16, 2017, the Gojam faction of Amhara Fano, one of the four groups comprising the Amhara Fano National Force, issued a press release accusing regional and federal security forces of waging an “official war” against the Amhara people. The statement marks the second anniversary of what the group describes as the “last horn” of government aggression—a campaign they say was launched with the explicit aim of eradicating Amhara communities.
According to the communiqué, the past two years have seen systematic killings of civilians, arbitrary arrests, torture and widespread looting. Homes and businesses across Gojam have allegedly been burned, closed or confiscated; families have been prevented from moving freely; and entire villages uprooted. Fano leaders say that the families of their own fighters have suffered particularly brutal reprisals, with relatives detained, tortured or killed.
The press release asserts that Amhara Fano fighters have responded by dismantling the administrative and security structures imposed by the authorities throughout the region. “This administration, weakened by Fano’s strong arm, has resorted to global terrorist acts and war crimes,” the statement reads, accusing officials of hiding behind tanks to unleash further violence on unarmed civilians.
Fano’s Gojam commanders call on religious leaders and prominent local families—referred to as “prosperity cadre families”—to join their resistance. They urge the community to stand firm against what they characterize as a coordinated campaign of terror, and to support self-defense efforts aimed at protecting Amhara lives and property.
The release warns that, should government forces continue their “planned crimes,” Fano will carry out new, unspecified “special actions” against those deemed responsible. It concludes with a rallying cry for a “new generation,” a “whole new way of thinking” and a “brand new hope” for Amhara self-determination.
Amhara Fano originated amid long-standing grievances over political representation, land rights and security in the Amhara Region. Its militias claim to defend local communities against both federal overreach and rival regional forces. Observers warn that the intensifying cycle of accusations and armed clashes could further destabilize Ethiopia, which is already navigating delicate reforms and multiple regional tensions.
As the Gojam faction’s press release circulates, human rights groups and government spokespeople have yet to substantiate or refute the claims. Meanwhile, residents across the region brace for what both sides describe as an escalating conflict over the future of Amhara governance and security.
