Timeline of Fano militia

The following lists are timeline of the Amhara nationalist Fano militia in Ethiopia. It is arranged by date with events and references.

2016–2020

Date Events Ref.
2016 Amhara youth movements emerged amidst nationwide protests. [1]
2018 Those movements developed through amalgamation of national forces, local paramilitary and gendarmerie force under the command of the government of the Amhara Region. [2][3]
2018 Fano integrated its security apparatus under influence of General Asaminew Tsige. [4]
10 January 2019 Local militias and regional forces build trenches and began assaulting Qemant people. [5]
29 September 2019 The militia set ablaze four members of family in Azezo in retaliation for killing of Amhara youth. [6]
19 March 2020 Fano began clashing with federal security forces in Gondar and Dabat in the Amhara Region. Three people injured. [7]
23 April 2020 According to local media, Fano leader Mesafint Tesfu reached agreement with the government. [8]

2020–2022

Date Events Ref.
November 2024 During the onset of Tigray War, Fano aligned with Amhara regional force and the federal government and seized the Western Tigray Region. [9][10]
Mid-December 2020 The militia formed provisional "Setit-Humera zone", covering the former Welkait, Kafta Humera, and Tsegede wereda. [11]
11 June – 6 July 2021 In Operation Alula, Fano mobilized with thousands of young men joining the militia. the militia then garnered support from Orthodox clergies to offer prayer and blessing. [12][1]
19 May 2022 Clashes broke out between the Fano militia and the government force after the government force attempting to disarm and arrest Fano members. [13]
23 May 2022 The local media reported over 4,500 people were arrested. [14]

2022–present

Date Events Ref.
April 2023 Tensions between Fano and the government arises when the Ethiopian government decided to integrate the Amhara Regional Special Forces into the national army, leading to broader war in Amhara Region. [15][16][17]
1 August 2023 Full scale clashes occurred in Gondar, Debre Tabor and Debre Markos.
2 August 2023 Fano seized Lalibela. [18]
6 August 2024 It was reported that various Fano factions combined to one single central command named "Amhara Fano Central Command", announced by Eskinder Nega. [19]
July 2024 Fano launched a new offensive, prompting ENDF to counteroffensive in October 2024. [20]

References

  1. ^ a b Gardner, Tom (2024-06-27). The Abiy Project: God, Power and War in the New Ethiopia. Hurst Publishers. ISBN 978-1-80526-144-5.
  2. ^ "The New Humanitarian | Who is Fano? Inside Ethiopia's Amhara rebellion". www.thenewhumanitarian.org. 2024-11-12. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  3. ^ "Why Ethiopia's Amhara militiamen are battling the army". 2023-08-15. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  4. ^ Account (2023-09-07). "Is Fano's confrontation with Abiy's regime short lived?". Borkena. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  5. ^ "Qemant Conflict". Ethiopia Peace Observatory. 2025-04-30. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  6. ^ "BEYOND LAW ENFORCEMENT" (PDF). Amenesty International. Retrieved 11 May 2025.
  7. ^ Admin (2020-03-21). "Gondar region security incident left at least three injured". Borkena. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  8. ^ Admin (2020-04-23). "Fano leader reportedly gave in through mediation". Borkena. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  9. ^ "Amhara conflict: Fano insurgency". Ethiopia Peace Observatory. 2024-12-18. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  10. ^ "Ethiopia's Ominous New War in Amhara | International Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  11. ^ Bach, Jean-Nicolas. Routledge Handbook of the Horn of Africa. p. 247.
  12. ^ "Ethiopia". United States Department of State. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  13. ^ "Ethiopia Peace Observatory Weekly: 14-20 May 2022 [EN/AM] - Ethiopia | ReliefWeb". reliefweb.int. 2022-05-25. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  14. ^ admin (2022-05-23). "Analysis: Mass arrests, unknown number of casualties reported in Amhara state as law enforcement operations by gov't lead to confrontation with local armed group - Addis Standard". Addis Standard. Archived from the original on 2024-12-17. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  15. ^ Studies, Middle East, politics, GCC, Iran, Syria, Iraq, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Nuclear deal, Yemen, Trump, MENA, Turkey, Gulf Crisis, Qatar,Future for Advanced Research and. "مركز المستقبل - Analyzing Why Ethiopia Launched a New Military Operation in the Amhara Region". Futureuae (in Arabic). Retrieved 2025-05-11.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  16. ^ "Ethiopia's Ominous New War in Amhara | International Crisis Group". www.crisisgroup.org. 2023-11-16. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  17. ^ "One moment, please..." addisstandard.com. Archived from the original on 2025-04-14. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  18. ^ "Multiple injuries as Ethiopian military, militia clash in Amhara: Sources". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  19. ^ AAA-admin (2024-08-06). "BBC Amharic - Who Are the Leaders of the Fano Groups Operating in Amhara Region?". Amhara Association o. Retrieved 2025-05-11.
  20. ^ "Fano Militias Launch Full-Scale Offensive Against Ethiopian Forces in Amhara Region - DNE Africa". 2025-03-19. Retrieved 2025-05-11.