The current conflict in the Amhara regional state, involving the federal army and security forces on one side and ethnic-nationalist Amhara militias on the other, stems from various grievances. These include the federal and regional authorities' perceived lack of legitimacy, the November 2022 ceasefire that ended the war in Tigray (in which Amhara was not involved) and the April 2023 decision to disband the regional paramilitary Amhara Special Forces (ASF). Following months of tension and sporadic armed incidents, fierce fighting broke out across large parts of the region in early August 2023. The regional government called on the federal government for assistance, which declared a state of emergency in the region.
Although the state of emergency was lifted in June 2024, the conflict continues unabated. The violence is concentrated in the zones of North and South Wello, West and East Gojjam, North Shewa, and Central and South Gondar. While the authorities and the army control the main towns of Amhara, the Fano groups retain their grip on the rural areas.
Fano groups are challenging federal control across much of the regional state, putting severe pressure on the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF). Since 2025, regional anti-riot militias and police units have become more involved. Meanwhile, coordination between the various Fano groups is increasing, with several uniting under umbrella structures. In their statements, both the authorities and the Fano groups emphasise their military successes, which have resulted in heavy casualties on the opposing side. This is heightening concerns about civilian casualties. Both sides claim momentum, legitimacy and popular support. These opposing narratives depict a conflict in which control is constantly shifting, verification is difficult, and facts are often distorted by partisan bias.
Amhara has a complex security landscape. State-affiliated armed groups active in the region and involved in clashes include the army, the federal police, the regional police, local state-affiliated Amhara militias and the Amhara Anti-Riot Force. The non-state armed groups operating in the region are primarily decentralised entities that use the umbrella term Fano. All parties to the conflict commit human rights violations against civilians.
During the study period from 1 March 2025 to 31 March 2026, ACLED recorded 1,485 incidents in Amhara. Three-quarters of these incidents involved clashes between armed groups, primarily between Fano militias and government forces, specifically the ENDF. ACLED recorded 5,129 fatalities during this period, at least 575 of which were civilian deaths.
State-affiliated groups primarily direct violence against Fano militants, but also against alleged sympathisers and anyone who supports Fano. Sources consulted state that murders, executions, arrests and detentions sometimes take place in conflict-affected areas solely on suspicion of supporting Fano. Drones are an integral part of the fight against Fano and are used as a tool for arbitrary and collective punishment. Fano typically targets local authorities, individuals linked to the government, security forces, and affiliated militias. The group is also involved in deadly attacks on civilians in the border region with Oromia.
The protracted conflict in Amhara is severely impacting basic services, civilian infrastructure, and the daily lives of people in the region. The weakened state institutions are facilitating widespread crime. The conflict is having a devastating impact on the regional health and education systems. Roadblocks are isolating Amhara from the rest of Ethiopia, hindering citizens' freedom of movement. Aid organisations are struggling to deliver services due to the insecurity.
Policy
The policy implemented by the Commissioner General is based on a thorough analysis of accurate and up-to-date information on the general situation in the country of origin. This information is collated in a professional manner from various, objective sources, including the EUAA, the UNHCR, relevant international human rights organisations, non-governmental organisations, professional literature and coverage in the media. When determining policy, the Commissioner General does not only examine the COI Focuses written by Cedoca and published on this website, as these deal with just one aspect of the general situation in the country of origin. The fact that a COI Focus could be out-of-date does not mean that the policy that is being implemented by the Commissioner General is no longer up-to-date.
When assessing an application for asylum, the Commissioner General not only considers the actual situation in the country of origin at the moment of decision-making, he also takes into account the individual situation and personal circumstances of the applicant for international protection. Every asylum application is examined individually. An applicant must comprehensively demonstrate that he has a well-founded fear of persecution or that there is a clear personal risk of serious harm. He cannot, therefore, simply refer back to the general conditions in his country, but must also present concrete, credible and personal facts.
There is no policy paper for this country available on the website.