In a tragic incident reflecting the ongoing violence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region, approximately 40 fighters were mistakenly killed by Ethiopian forces during a drone strike on January 15. The attack targeted a pro-government camp in the Waghemira area, where local militia members known as Fano have been active players in the region’s complex security landscape.
Since April 2023, Amhara—Ethiopia’s second most populous region, with around 23 million residents—has experienced intense insurgent activities, largely in response to federal efforts to disarm local ethnic militias. The Fano, which has defended the government in various confrontations, has been a central figure in this conflict.
According to a local official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, the drone strike was an unfortunate mistake. It was reported that the drone had been surveilling the camp for an extended period before the strike occurred. Eyewitness accounts described a scene of chaos and devastation, with one witness stating, “I immediately saw smoke and fire… I saw body parts of the dead as well as the injured agonising in pain.” In total, 36 individuals were reported killed at the scene, with two more succumbing to their injuries in the hospital.
Medical personnel at the site, including a medic named Abebaw Zinabu, corroborated these horrifying accounts, estimating that “more than 40” individuals lost their lives as a result of the attack. The local official raised poignant questions about the circumstances leading to the incident, highlighting the longstanding presence of the camp and its role in supporting the government’s military efforts. “How can an attack happen by our forces on a well-known camp that has been home to militia members for the past six years, defending the government, fighting in the desert and valleys, away from their family and loved ones?” he lamented.
In the aftermath, the Ethiopian army acknowledged the blunder, categorizing the attack as a “mistake.” However, a spokesperson for the military stated they had “not received any information” regarding the incident, which raises questions about internal communication and operational oversight.
Ethiopia is currently grappling with multiple insurgencies, particularly concentrated in the Amhara and Oromo regions. The situation is further complicated by tense relations with neighboring Eritrea. According to a report from the Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED), over 669 casualties have been recorded in more than 70 drone strikes in Amhara since the beginning of 2023, underscoring the escalating violence and the pressing need for effective conflict resolution measures.
