Disclaimer: This is an English translation of an Amharic article taken from BBC Amharic and is intended solely for information purposes.
BBC Amharic - Who are the leaders of the Fano groups operating in Amhara Region?
August 5, 2024
After fighting in Tigray ended, the Federal Government moved to disarm armed groups in Amhara Region and dissolve the regional special forces causing fighting and crisis in the region.
In opposition of the government’s decision, regional special force members and Fano forces acted in an unprecedented manner since Hamle (July/August) of last year. The regional administration then called on the federal government to intervene citing that the armed force was beyond its means.
It has been over one year since this fighting between the government and Fano militants began in Amhara Region. The federal government declared a 10 month state of emergency and deployed its military to control the Fano forces.
Fano forces have formed and expanded their organizational structure in a significant number of areas in the region and have engaged in intense military confrontations with government forces. As a result residents of the region have been impacted and suffered various other problems.
The Fano forces have been organized in various parts of the region and all have their own leaders. Although it has been reported efforts were underway in recent months to designate a single leader for these forces, there has not yet been a successful outcome.
During recent efforts to select a leader, though it was said Eskinder Nega was chosen, there are Fano groups which opposed this selection. As a result, the initiative to elect a single Fano leader and structure ended without unanimous acceptance.
In addition to this, among the Fano groups who operate in the Shewa area, the group led by Colonel Aseged Mekonnen was captured by the government according to social media reports. This outcome caused accusations between Fano groups based on messages shared on social media.
So who are the leaders of these various Fano forces in these areas?
Eskinder Nega: the Amhara Popular Army
Eskinder Nega
Eskinder Nega was born in Addis Ababa and in the 1980s he travelled to America to pursue his college studies.
After the fall of the Derg regime he returned to Ethiopia where he worked within the journalism profession publishing various newspapers as owner and editor-in-chief, and he was repeatedly arrested in connection with his work.
Eskinder was arrested for months and years on end. He was arrested for more than one year following the crisis during the 1997 EC (2005) elections. And in 2004 EC (2011/2012), after one year of legal follow-up he was sentenced to 18 years in detainment.
After Prime Minister Abiy’s government came to power, political prisoners in the country were released including Eskinder who had been imprisoned for four years and he returned to his journalism work.
However he entered opposition with the government by forming the “Balderas council” and later the “Balderas for True Democracy” party which prioritised the suffering of residents in Addis Ababa.
In 2012 EC (2020) he was rearrested and stayed in prison for over two years before being released but did not return to his journalism work or party, he stayed in Amhara Region for months before announcing the formation of the “Amhara Popular Front” to engage in armed struggle.
After several months the front fell apart and was replaced with the “Amhara Popular Army”. Weeks ago various Fano groups came together to form a single central structure called the “Amhara Fano Central Command” and it was announced that Eskinder was the leader.
However Fano groups which did not accept the leadership of Eskinder Nega announced they did not recognize the newly established central structure led by Eskinder.
Miré Wedajo: Amhara Fano in Wollo
Miré Wedajo
Miré Wedajo was born and raised in Raya Kobo. Miré’s name was first recognized among Fano groups since the deadly war which ensued when Tigrayan forces invaded Amhara Region.
As a resident of the Raya area Miré possessed a private gun, and when security forces were called upon to hand over their guns to the government he was unwilling and became wanted. As a result he was forced into exile in Saudi Arabia.
Miré travelled to Saudi Arabia under illegal means and was unable to stay for more than a year. He was seized by national police and returned to Ethiopia, however after facing further persecution he was once again forced into exile in Saudi Arabia.
He stayed there until 2010 EC (2018) and returned to his home after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power.
At the time Fano structures were strengthening in various parts of Amhara, and Miré began organizing a Fano group alongside his allies in his birthplace of Raya Kobo. In addition, beyond Raya Kobo he formed ties with Fano groups in Gonder, Gojjam and Shewa.
When the Tigray war which began in 2013 EC (2020), intensified and Tigrayan forces invaded Amhara Region it is said he fought with the Fano group in Raya Kobo and gained experience in war and acquired weapons.
When the fighting expanded beyond the Kobo area and fighting took place in areas across North and South Wollo his group’s activity expanded. As a result the force known as “East Amhara Fano” was formed across areas in Wollo led by Miré Wedajo.
When the war expanded and Tigrayan forces invaded the North Shewa area, the East Amhara Fano and leader Miré Wedajo also partook in fighting in the Shewa area outside of Wollo.
After the destructive war which spanned two years ended with the Pretoria deal, Miré Wedajo and his Fano group had agreed to gather in one area and return to civilian life.
After the government decided to dissolve the regional special forces and capture all weapons the East Amhara Fano in Raya Kobo entered into fighting with the national defense force.
Local elders attempted arbitration between Fano forces in the area and government forces in order to stop the fighting and tensions which Miré agreed to on behalf of his Fano forces.
However the truce was short lived as fighting intensified between Fano and government forces in various areas of Amhara Region, and Miré Wedajo along with his forces entered the wilderness.
At this time the East Amhara Fano has expanded to a command known as “Amhara Fano in Wollo” with Miré Wedajo as its main commander with Colonel Fentahun Muhabaw as his deputy.
Zemene Kassie: Amhara Fano in Gojjam
Zemene Kassie
Zemene Kassie who was born in Merawi town in North Gojjam Zone of Amhara Region is leader of the Amhara Fano in Gojjam.
Zemene obtained his first degree from Haramaya University and worked in various government offices as a professional and manager, and was formerly president of the Amhara Region youth league.
After the 1997 EC (2005) election crisis Zemene had left for Eritrea to join the Ginbot Sebat movement which had waged armed struggle and a comprehensive struggle against the government.
Afterwards Zemene had travelled to various countries, and he returned to Ethiopia after the administrative change when opposition figures were given official positions in the Amhara Region administration Zemene was among those who were given a position.
He was given an advisory position within the region’s community security office however following the upheaval caused by the killing of regional officials on June 22/2019 (Sene 15/2011 EC), Zemene resigned from his position.
After declaring he had no involvement in the killing of the regional president and other top officials, Zemene returned to politics at the time when the northern war expanded to the center of the country.
At the time when TPLF forces took control of many Amhara areas he alongside his allies established the “Amhara Popular Force” and was chosen as leader.
Although Tigrayan forces were unable to enter areas in Gojjam, this force operated in various areas of Amhara particularly in Western Wollo where they fought alongside the national defense force.
However before the end of the northern war the regional government began a “law enforcement” campaign which targeted the area where Zemene and his forces operated targeting the group’s leader however the problem was shortly resolved.
A short time after the regional police detained Zemene Kassie in Bahir Dar city. He was then released after spending months in imprisonment.
Last year when Fano militants began fighting with government forces Zemene entered the wilderness with his group the “Amhara Popular Force”.
This force operated in various parts of Gojjam and created a coalition with other Fano militants to expand and establish the “Amhara Fano in Gojjam” with Zemene Kassie as its leader.
Habte Wolde: Amhara Fano in Gonder Command
Habte Wolde
Habte Wolde was born and raised in Gonder and leads the Amhara Fano in Gonder Command, one of two commands in the Gonder area.
When popular demonstrations took place in Amhara Region leading to the change in the government, Habte did not have any involvement in any of the Fano movements or political or armed movements.
However he did participate with other youth in movements across various parts of the country outside Amhara Region calling for an end to killings and attacks against Amhara people.
After 2012 EC (2019/2020), he began coordinating within the Fano movement under the belief these questions would only receive a response through armed struggle.
When the fighting in Tigray expanded to Amhara Region, Habte took the Fano under him and participated in fighting on various fronts following the call to arms by the government to protect their areas.
It is said as a result of the war his group was able to acquire weapons and experience, and during the previous year when government forces started a campaign against militants in the region, the Fano led by Habte became a target and fighting broke out.
This movement which began with just a few members a few years ago has expanded its structure in various parts of Gonder in recent months. During this time this force which was at the level of a battalion gained strength and at this time has become the Amhara Fano in Gonder Command led by Habte Wolde.
Meketaw Mamo: Shewa Province Command
Meketaw Mamo
The Fano force known as the Shewa Province Command is led by Meketaw Mamo who was born in Tarma Ber Woreda of North Shewa.
Meketaw completed his secondary school studies in Shewa Robot town before transitioning to business. Meketaw made a living in Shewa Robit town doing various types of business.
It is said Meketaw had no involvement in any political or armed movement outside of his studies and business work. However in recent years during repeated attacks on Ataye town he joined the armed struggle along with his friends.
After this when the Northern Ethiopia War when spread to Amhara Region he fought alongside the national defense force in battles across various parts of the region.
After the war came to an end, Meketaw and his Fano members became involved in repeated conflict in areas they operated in, and his group left Shewa Robit and began to operate in neighboring areas.
When tensions in Amhara Region blew up and fighting expanded between government forces and Fano militants the Fano group led by Meketaw were involved in fighting in their area.
The group led by Meketaw Mamo was called the “Shewa Province Command” and became one of the Fano groups operating in the Shewa area.
Baye Kenaw: Amhara Fano in Gonder
Baye Kenaw
Baye Kenaw is the leader of the “Amhara Fano in Gonder” one of the Fano groups which operate in the Gonder area. Baye who is 42-years-old, spent half his life in the wilderness.
Baye was born in a place called Inqash in Wegera Woreda of North Gonder Zone and he entered the wilderness in 1993 EC (2000/2001).
This took place because he felt wronged by officials of the previous administration who persecuted and arrested his family members for their political views. After Baye remained in the wilderness for four years he accepted a truce agreement and returned to civilian life.
However before he could stay long Baye was arrested as a political prisoner in 1997 EC (2004/2005). After being detained for over 2 years he was released from detainment in 1999 EC (2006/2007).
After Baye was released from detainment he did not return to his regular life. He immediately went to the wilderness in rebellion against the government.
Years after when Colonel Demeke Zewdu was encircled by Federal Police in Gonder leading to unrest he participated in fighting along with his fighters. After that fight he returned to the wilderness where he stayed until 2013 EC (2020).
Near the end of Tikimit 2013 EC (early November 2020) when the war with Tigray expanded into Amhara Region the government issued a call to militants in the wilderness, and Baye left the wilderness where he had stayed for years and fought alongside the national defense force against the TPLF forces which had invaded the region.
When the war ended after the agreement and after the government passed a decision to disarm militants in the region, during the end of Hamle last year (early August 2023) he participated in fighting in the Gonder area which broke out between Fano militants and government forces.
At this time Baye Kenaw leads the Amhara Fano in Gonder which operate in the South Gonder, Central Gonder and North Gonder areas. After the completion of this report Amhara Fano in Gonder issued a statement announcing a change in leadership.
Conclusion
Efforts have long been underway to bring Fano forces which operate in various parts of Amhara Region under a single leadership structure but weeks ago these groups carried out a discussion to select a single goal and leader which did not appear to be unsuccessful.
Despite this this leadership selection process ended with Eskinder Nega reportedly being selected as leader however he did not receive acceptance by all Fano groups. Afterwards opposition was seen and Fano movements have shown divisions rather than coming together.
In fighting which has taken place over the last year between government forces and Fano militants a significant number of areas, government facilities, schools and health provisions, commercial and private facilities have sustained severe damages. As a result the region has faced a trying situation, say officials.
Even worse are reports which have repeatedly shown fighting between the two sides has led to attacks targeting civilians.
The regional administration and federal government have repeatedly expressed their desire to resolve the problem through peaceful means until there have been no concrete measures taken.
Recently Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in a meeting said his government was engaged in talks with Fano militants, however since there are various Fano groups operating in the region it has been difficult to reach an agreement.
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