A memo to Amhara…

“Especially the campaign that the government is doing in Amhara region is destructive, it is a historical mistake that has not been learned from the previous mistake, so we urge that a comprehensive discussion should be started immediately and a solution should be taken back from the war” (ENAT Party, 16.08.2023).

I know in these troubling times… words are sort of pointless and can feel meaningless. Especially, when everything is on the line and the targeted attacks are done with precision. There is nowhere to hide and nowhere to go. The Amhara region is under fire and is aimed at by the authorities.

The people of Amhara and of ethnicity is also touched. Not only in Amhara, but in Addis Ababa and possibly elsewhere. We have seen this all before… and that time Amhara and the people of Amhara was cheering it on as a part of a collective and for “unity”. Now the same “unity” and “One Ethiopia” is used against Amhara. They are feeling the pendulum and weapons are turned against them.

The #NoMore Crowd and the ones who was supporting the lethal and brutal war in Tigray region. They are now seeing the same drones and the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) violating their turf. Their homes are being burned, schools destroyed and other parts of the region. It is all being in the cross-fire and for one reason: consolidation of power.

“The recent disruption in Amhara region was not unexpected in one way or the other. Our organization, the Amhara National Movement, foreseeing this, we have been worried about the government’s repeated and continuous mistakes and efforts to solve it. Therefore, since the questions that were looking for solutions were not clear because of lack of listeners, because the regional government and the ruling development lacks limits, the Amhara people are giving different agenda, i.e. those who connect our people with other brotherly peoples, for our youth to make unnecessary sacrifices, and for those who make institutions, elders and religious leaders have to intervene. The lack of competence and lack of representative of the regional government is a mess. The Amhara intellectuals and political forces as well as various civic organizations have their own weaknesses, the regional government is also convinced that the fact that these bodies do not consult together and find a solution has remained an additional problem. This is the result of the sudden decisions made by the people’s issues that should be discussed in a wide range. The Amhara Special Force members who stood together with Ethiopians and played a historical role in preserving the existence of the country by taking emergency governmental action to restructure the army and to disband it is an additional reason for the recent problem” (National Movement of Amhara (NAMa) – A press release from Amhara National Movement (ANM) on current affairs, 09.08.2023).

That’s all that matters at this current time. Just like the consolidation of power mattered in Tigray region. The same matters in Amhara region. It is all about POWER. That is the main point and objective. It sounds so benign and mediocre, right?

Well, is it?

No, it isn’t and for one reason. One War-Lord, one Lord of War and his ambition to rule supreme. One man needs all power and glory. He needs puppets and “yes-men” across the board. He needs the soldiers, generals and everyone else listening to his voice. His the man, the myth and the legendary King. It is all Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali making. He wants to consolidate and have an iron fist over the Amhara region. Just like he wanted the Tigray region to starve, struggle and beg for mercy.

Now the Medemer Terror is happening to the Amhara. It isn’t righteous or fair. The Amhara was an ally and committed to the war in Tigray. The Amhara become violent and militant, because of the conflict and it boosted the regions moral. They got more guns, military training and preparedness for combat. That’s why Fano, Regional Special Forces and others are now united in the Amhara Popular Front (APF) after the ENDF tried to siphon these forces under it’s wings. If it wouldn’t join, they would have to disband. Which wasn’t accepted by the militants, the para-military or the Amhara chauvinists. Therefore, we have the conflict and the war in the region now.

The “yes-men” and people within power can talk of peace, mediation and the need for dialogue. However, the PM and his leadership is all about deciding and decreeing the rule of law. The PM doesn’t mind other people’s plight or disregard for his decisions. No, he will bury, silence and find ways to make them stop. That’s what he does and this is the reason why he always ends up in conflict. Because, he cannot talk or find measures to ensure peaceful navigations. That’s why the Ministry of Peace even ends up in supporting war-efforts as means to generate peace under his reign.

The Amhara people and Amhara regional state should have seen this coming. They knew how Abiy works and they partners in arms in the Tigray war. The war that created a bloodshed and will take a generation or even more to rebuild Tigray to former self. The destruction and harm committed will linger on. That’s been done with help of Amhara and their lethal choices there. Now the same means and tactics are happening at home.

Abiy and ENDF is serving the same brutal warfare in Amhara. As it did in Tigray and done in Oromia. The Prosperity Party and the FDRE don’t mind death. They don’t mind destruction or looting. It doesn’t mind suffering or total annihilation as a tactic. The PP and Abiy is actually getting stronger by this. The confidence is oozing when people are running, hiding and doing whatever they to save their lives. That’s when Abiy is feeling relief and feeling that he did something.

Amhara people are now feeling it. They are now living through it. They are seeing what the PP and Abiy is capable of doing. The same people that was clapping and wanted more in Tigray. They are now suffering the same fate… and it wasn’t righteous before and isn’t righteous now either. Just because they supported one crime, doesn’t mean this crime is right either. Both was wrong and Amhara shouldn’t have participated and promoted itself as a part of the conflict in Tigray region. However, it did and now they have suffer the consequences of its action.

Some might call this karma. I call it underestimating Abiy and what his accomplices are willing to do. They should have seen it coming. However, they never thought they could face the same danger, as they were an ally and a brother in arms. Peace.

Ethiopia: Amhara Popular Front (APF) – Abiy Ahmed’s Military Actions in the Amhara Region Claims More Innocent Lives (13.08.2023)

Ethiopa: Genocide Prevention in Ethiopia (GPE) and Amhara Human Rights & Genocide Warning (AHRGW) – Joint Letter – Ethiopia: Appeal for Urgent Intervention in the Situation of the Amhara People in Ethiopia and the State-Sponsored Violence (11.08.2023)

Ethiopia: The Amhara Regional State under “State of Emergency” and Fano-APF has published their principles in the occupied territories…

“Addis Ababa, August 4, 2023 (FBC) – Ethiopia’s Council of Ministers, during its 23rd Regular Session, has decided to declare a state of emergency in the Amhara Regional State. The Council stated that the state of emergency has become necessary to control the armed conflict and ensure peace and security in the region” (Fana Broadcasting Company – ‘Council Of Ministers Decides To Declare State Of Emergency In Amhara Region’ 04.08.2023).

Things are only getting worse before it’s getting better. What is tragic is that it was only yesterday the letter surfaced from Amhara Regional State President asking for help from the Federal Government. It didn’t take long before my predictions was coming into fruition. That isn’t exactly how I thought it would be, but certainly the hurry and haste is for a reason. As there are others who are warning the state.

Several opposition parties have already warned about the conflict just three weeks ago. They did so on the 12^th July 2023 and nothing was of response. Now when the conflict is spiralling out of hand and Fano-APF is taking control of territories. Then the Federal Government starts to act and being serious about it. While there was severe warnings that never was attended too.

Just read this here:

“Even though it has been more than three weeks since we raised our question, we are saying that the conflict is widening and the whole Amhara region is turning into a war zone. In this war, we have understood that innocent citizens who are not armed are also dying, and that students who are taking national exams are also being delayed because of this. We emphasize that the only solution to the disaster that is looming in our country is to start a discussion that a country should learn from the war in Northern Ethiopia that took away the lives of one million of its children. We emphasize that the government will take full responsibility for the damage that we have proposed again and that it will serve as a way out for the country as a whole and for the government in power” (Enat Party, All Ethiopian Unity Party (AEUP), Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Party (EPRP), Amhara Ghinoians Movement and One Ethiopia Democratic Party – Joint Open Letter, 08.04.2023).

If you feel it is grim. Well, the rebels and the paramilitary group Fano-APF has their ideals and now principles in their occupied territories. They now have to follow certain orders and command. Which is initially giving them instruction on how to operate. That has actually become public and written in a Press Release. The APF is run by Eskinder Nega, so these are his principles for his militia men to adhere too in the middle of this conflict. As things are only becoming more dire and distressed…

“Amhara Popular Force (Fano) strictly respects the following principles in all areas controlled by Fano Forces:

1. Members of Fano must not touch any property of individuals or institutions. Violation of this will be held accountable.

2. No member of Fano shall use forceful anarchical measures on any individual. Criminals captured should be judged by law, respecting the core principles of Amhara culture.

3. Fano members are obligated to safeguard all institutions, factories, and infrastructures from destruction.

4. Unless in obligatory situations, all Fano members should safeguard government offices and infrastructure as they belong to the people of Amhara.

5. Captured military personnel and soldiers will be treated according to international conventions. Wounded and injured soldiers will receive medical treatment, and we call on all medical personnel in the Amhara region to assist in doing so.

6. In areas controlled by Fano forces, a team of respected elderly and civil groups will be assembled to ensure peaceful day-to-day life in the society.

7. Amhara Forces will safeguard all religious and cultural institutions.

8. Police and local militia forces are encouraged to join Amhara Popular Fano Forces. Senior and retired military personnel at all levels are also invited to be part of this historical moment.

9. Anyone who works behind Amhara Popular Fano Forces will be held accountable.

10. All captured belongings will be registered and used for the struggle.

11. All different Fano forces in all areas will be synchronized and come under one central command, as they are all fighting one common enemy” (Press Release from Amhara Popular Force (Fano) Leader, 04.08.2023).

The State of Emergency and those provisions will give the army and the law enforcement a more swift response. They will be allowed to silence, stop movement and possibly also gather quicker intelligence of the Fano-APF. That’s why the state does it and also to not loose totally control of the situation. As things are getting out of hand and the Fano-APF is much stronger than the Federal Government anticipated. Even if they shouldn’t have been shocked or in awe over this. As they have trained, supplied and given them the know-how. That has been done in the warfare in the North, specifically in Tigray region and also the Regional State has boosted both Fano, Regional Special Forces and even trained civil servants, which could participate on the side of Fano-APF. Therefore, this is a self-made problem that the regime now have to contain.

We should expect Command Post, laws prohibiting public gatherings and other measures to stop all communication in the region. The Fano-APF will need a backup plan and others means of communicating. As the regional state should anticipate a total media-blackout and internet shut-down. While army commanders and others are stationed in various parts of Amhara region. They will be brutal, extra judicial killings and go after the enemies in the most sinister ways. The Abiy government will bring the Medemer Terror to Amhara now. They will feel the blunt and unforgiving ways of the Prosperity Party. That’s what is coming and there is only dark days ahead.

Right now the innocent are dying. The are two kinds of extremists fighting each other. One hand the Amhara chauvinist and the Prosperity Party “consolidating power drive”. Just like Abiy did everything in his way to consolidate power and conquer Tigray. The same way he will address the Amhara. Now that the former weapon brothers of FANO has betrayed him and attacked him. Peace.