In a recent interview with Roha TV founder Meaza Mohammed, Asres Mare Damte, deputy head of Fano-Gojjam and a prominent leader of the Amhara Fano movement, issued a bold statement that disrupts widely held narratives about the conflict in Ethiopia. He presented a narrative that counters claims made by international media and casts light on the true motivations of the Fano movement during its struggle in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
Asres firmly dismissed the assertion that the Amhara war arose from Fano’s dissatisfaction with being excluded from the Pretoria Agreement. Instead, he emphasized that the Fano movement’s fight stems from the fundamental need to defend Amhara rights and survival rather than grievances over diplomatic exclusion. He shed light on the misleading perception that this exclusion fueled the conflict, making it clear that the struggle has deeper roots and independent goals.
Asres also took the opportunity to clarify the relationship between the Fano movement and Abiy Ahmed’s administration during their shared fight against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). While both forces found themselves on the same battlefield facing a common enemy, Asres underscored that their causes were entirely distinct. According to him, the Fano movement’s primary motivation was the defense of the Amhara people and homeland, while the regime forces had their own separate political and strategic objectives. This differentiation highlights Fano’s refusal to align itself with Abiy Ahmed’s administration, despite the temporary overlap in the conflict.
In addition, Asres expressed his strong criticism of the National Dialogue Commission. He argued that the commission, which claims to be a platform for peace, is under the financial and protective influence of regime forces. Asres pointed out that this arrangement compromises the commission’s ability to remain independent and unbiased. As a result, the Fano movement does not recognize the commission as a legitimate entity capable of mediating the conflict or representing the interests of the Amhara people. His rejection of the commission further illustrates the growing rift between the federal government and the Amhara resistance.
The deputy leader also addressed critical events in the region, including the recent drone attack on civilians in Enarj-Enawga, East Gojjam, which tragically killed 120 people. He accused regime forces of channeling their frustrations into acts of violence against innocent civilians, reflecting the humanitarian crisis unfolding in the region.
