The Amhara Association in America (AAA) has released its August 2025 human rights report, documenting an alarming escalation of violence and civilian abuses across the Amhara and Oromia regions. The findings highlight both the intensity of armed clashes and the severe impact on ordinary citizens caught between regime forces and local resistance.Between August 1 and 31, the Amhara War Update recorded 235 battle events across 96 woreda and city administrations in 16 zonal administrations. These clashes resulted in 4,485 casualties among regime forces and 118 among Fano self-defense fighters, reflecting the scale of the fighting and the shifting control of key areas. The escalation followed the consolidation of Fano sub-regional commands and heavy counter-offensives launched by the Oromo Prosperity Party (OPP) regime and its allied forces.Alongside the battles, 73 human rights incidents were reported across 41 woreda and city administrations, resulting in the deaths of 111 civilians, injuries to 78 more, four abductions, and the mass arrest of 2,528 individuals. The majority of these violations were committed by OPP regime forces, though Oromia Region Special Forces, Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) units, and unidentified armed groups were also implicated.The data shows North Wollo as the hardest-hit zone, suffering nearly 50 separate incidents and the highest number of civilian casualties, surpassing 40 deaths and injuries. West Gojjam, North Shewa, and South Gonder also recorded significant violations, with crackdowns and civilian losses concentrated in these areas. West Gojjam and West Gonder ranked especially high in civilian casualties, underscoring the widespread reach of the abuses.Compared to July, when Central Gonder and East Gojjam were the center of fighting, August marked a shift in the conflict’s geography. The violence spread more evenly across Amhara and penetrated further into Oromia-administered territories, suggesting an expanding front and deeper instability.The sharp rise in civilian casualties and mass detentions underscores a rapidly deteriorating human rights situation. With more than 2,500 arrests in a single month and widespread reports of killings, injuries, and abductions, the Amhara population faces an existential threat under ongoing militarization and repression. Unless urgent international attention and accountability measures are brought to bear, the cycle of violence risks further destabilizing the Amhara region and beyond.
