The United States has expressed deep concern regarding the escalating violence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, a focal point of an insurgency since last year. During a recent phone call between U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Blinken underscored the need for political dialogue to address Ethiopia’s internal conflicts, particularly the alarming situation in Amhara.
The Fano militia, a longstanding self-defense group representing the Amhara ethnic group—the second largest in Ethiopia—took up arms against the federal government in April 2023 after authorities attempted to disarm regional forces. In response to the unrest, the government declared a state of emergency in Amhara, which is home to approximately 23 million people, in August 2023. Although the emergency declaration expired in June, violence has persisted, prompting a significant deployment of federal forces in September.
State Department spokesperson Matt Miller noted that Blinken expressed concerns about the increasing violence and emphasized the importance of dialogue to resolve Ethiopia’s complex internal challenges. The conversation also addressed rising tensions between Ethiopia and neighboring Somalia, exacerbated by Abiy’s agreement in January to lease a section of coastline from a breakaway Somali region, a move that has angered Mogadishu. Somalia has labeled the agreement as illegal and is moving closer to Egypt, a historical rival of Ethiopia.
Prime Minister Abiy, in a recent address to parliament, reiterated his commitment to peace, stating he has “no interest in engaging in war,” despite the mounting tensions. Ethiopia, with a population of about 120 million, lost its access to the sea when Eritrea gained independence in 1993, which significantly impacted its regional dynamics.
In addition to discussing the situation in Amhara, Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Ethiopia’s implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), which ended the two-year war in Tigray. Formalized on November 2, 2022, in Pretoria, South Africa, between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the agreement recently marked its second anniversary. The U.S. State Department acknowledged the “important progress” made in implementing the COHA, including the cessation of hostilities in Tigray and the return of displaced persons.
While the Pretoria Agreement has contributed to relative calm in Tigray, the situation in the Amhara region has deteriorated into a military conflict that has resulted in civilian casualties, property damage, and disruptions in essential services. The TPLF recognized progress under the agreement but highlighted that “major foundational points” remain pending, with some areas of Tigray still “under occupation” and displaced residents living in inadequate conditions.
As the U.S. calls for renewed efforts to foster stability, the ongoing violence in Amhara continues to pose a significant challenge to peace and security in Ethiopia.