In the past two weeks, Ethiopian federal forces have reinforced their presence in the Amhara region, which has been experiencing armed rebellion for over a year. They have also conducted mass arrests among the citizens.

On the other hand, the “Fano” militias, representing self-defense groups and comprising the second-largest ethnic group in Ethiopia by population, launched their armed campaign against the central government in April 2023, in an area inhabited by 23 million people.