Ethiopia declares state of emergency over army, local fighters clashes
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Amhara is the venue of ongoing clashes between the national army and local fighters.
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People run next to black smoke and flames at a scene of an airstrike in Mekele, northern Ethiopia, on Wednesday, October 20, 2021. (AP)
The federal government of Ethiopia declared a "state of emergency" on Friday as deadly skirmishes between the national army and local fighters from Amhara's northern area intensified.
The office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed stated that "it has become necessary to declare a state of emergency as a situation has emerged where it has become difficult to control this unacceptable movement under current law."
The announcement did not specify if the state of emergency applied nationwide or was restricted to Amhara, which is located to the north of Addis Ababa.
Clashes in Amhara between the national army and local rebels have intensified in recent weeks, causing foreign governments to issue travel advisories and Ethiopian Airlines to cancel flights.
Local officials in the region sought the federal government for help handling security on Thursday, claiming that the situation had become "difficult to control" and was creating social and economic damage in the region.
According to the administration, the violence "endangered constitutional order," and the decision to declare a state of emergency was "unanimous".
At a news conference this week, Ethiopian army spokesperson Getnet Adane said fighters claiming to be Fano were responsible for the assault.
An anonymous resident of Lalibela spoke to AFP and divulged that the airport was also under Fano's control.
Embassies of Spain and the UK have warned travelers against traveling to the areas, citing "instability" in the region, while Ethiopian Airlines suspended its flights to Gondar and Lalibela.
On Wednesday, Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen stated that "the security problems that are seen in different areas of Amhara region are becoming worrisome."
In a Facebook post, Mekonnen expressed that "we are at a historical time where we should be mindful of the fact 'If you don't have peace you will lose everything."
Paramilitaries pose 'significant risk' to Ethiopian unity: PM
In early July, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed promised to remove all paramilitary organizations in the country, calling the growth of these unlawful groups a "significant risk" to national unity.
In April, the government launched a surprise operation to disarm and dissolve the several state-based "special forces" formations that operate in Africa's second-most populous country outside the national army and the rule of law.
The endeavor to incorporate paramilitary fighters into the national army or state police has been met with fierce opposition and violent protests in Amhara, with Addis Ababa accused of attempting to weaken the region.
Before a surprise truce in November last year, the two-year war in Africa's second most populous country killed untold numbers of civilians and forced about two million people from their homes.
Tigrayan forces began surrendering heavy weapons in January, and the process is still ongoing. However, forces from the neighboring Amhara region, which also supported the federal forces, continue to control the western part of Tigray.
On July 27, the northern Ethiopian region of Tigray confirmed that more than 50,000 of its fighters have been demobilized under a peace deal it signed with the federal government that ended a bloody two-year war.
Media close to both sides had announced on May 26 that demobilization had begun among rebel forces. The number of Tigrayan combatants is not fully known.
On July 19, the official Ethiopian news agency ENA reported that around 50,000 former Tigrayan rebel fighters would be incorporated into the regular army this year.
