Officials stated that the clashes between the army and a regional militia are posing a threat to public security and causing "serious economic and humanitarian damage."
Ethiopia's council of ministers has declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region following the leader's acknowledgment that he was no longer able to contain the surge in violence between a local ethnic militia and the army.
The prime minister's office, headed by Abiy Ahmed, announced the emergency on Friday, citing attacks by "armed extremist groups" as a growing threat to public security and causing significant economic damage.
"Therefore, the council of ministers has declared a state of emergency in order to fulfill the responsibilities imposed by the constitution," it stated.
The violence in Amhara has intensified due to a disputed plan to integrate regional security forces into the national army. Last year, authorities also attempted to suppress the Amhara militia known as the Fano.
The Fano and regional security forces have played significant roles in the two-year-long civil war with the neighboring Tigray region and enjoy popularity among the Amhara people. However, the government perceives them as a threat to the country's constitutional order.
This week, protests escalated, leading to roadblocks being set up, clashes between Fano militiamen and military units, and the seizure of control over certain towns. These events have paralyzed Ethiopia's second-most populous region and resulted in an unknown number of casualties.
As a consequence of the unrest, flights to Gondar and Lalibela, two prominent tourist destinations, were canceled. The UK and the US have issued travel warnings, advising their citizens in Amhara to stay where they are and avoid traveling to the region.
In various Amhara towns, government officials have fled, and internet access has been cut. Security forces have used live ammunition to disperse protesters, and there have been reports of artillery being deployed in civilian areas in the town of Kobo.
A resident of Lalibela reported, "There is not any government or military here. The Fano are everywhere." Similarly, a resident of Debre Tabor stated, "The youth are self-organizing into different groups."
On Thursday, the Amhara regional president sent a letter to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, expressing that the unrest is causing significant economic, social, and humanitarian damage and requesting assistance.
The letter stated that the "situation has become difficult to control through the regular law enforcement system."
This letter came after an earlier appeal by the deputy prime minister, Demeke Mekonnen, who, on Wednesday, emphasized the importance of seeking a peaceful resolution through dialogue. His remarks were a rare instance of a senior official directly addressing the unrest, as there has been silence from state media outlets and government social media accounts.
The state of emergency, declared on Friday, must receive approval from parliament within 15 days, or it will be revoked. Ethiopia previously declared a state of emergency in November 2021, during the height of the Tigray conflict.
Although that conflict ended with a ceasefire signed in November 2022, instability has persisted in other regions, including Oromia, which is Ethiopia's largest and most populous region. There, another group of insurgents has been fighting against the government since 2018.
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