APA-Addis Ababa (Ethiopia) Ethiopian authorities have arrested thousands of ethnic Amhara people in connection to “the security crisis in Amhara region where the National Defence Force is losing battle after battle, APA can report on Wednesday.
The fresh unrest in Africa’s second most populous country comes after Addis Ababa decided to disarm local militia otherwise known as ‘Fano’ Fighters who allied the national defense force during the two year conflict in the northern part of the country.
The ongoing mass arrest has been taking place for ten days now when Fano fighters, who have strong support from the residents in the region, dismantled the federal army whose soldiers reportedly lost the appetite to fight with the fighters.
The mass arrest has been carried out in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia and other major towns of Oromia region where ethnic Amhara people have resided in large numbers.
Last week, the central government confirmed the arrest of 27 individuals who are allegedly involved in the crisis in Amhara region. At least 30,000 ethnic Amhara people are reportedly arrested in Addis Ababa and different towns of the country.
The motive behind the mass arrest aims to crack down the possible violence that could erupt when the Fano fighters continue advancing to the capital, Addis Ababa.
The government said Friday that the emergency measures would cover Amhara “for six months” but could be imposed “nationwide in relation to any situation or movement that aggravates the security problem.”
Tensions have been rising since April when the federal government announced it was dismantling regional forces across Ethiopia, triggering protests by Amhara nationalists who said the move would weaken their region.
Clashes in Amhara have escalated in recent weeks, prompting travel warnings from foreign governments and the grounding of flights, with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office last Monday saying emergency measures were needed “to control this unacceptable movement.”
MG/abj/APA