Ethiopia: Political Violence in Amhara Region and Aimed at Amhara

 The Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED) published on 10 August 2023 a fact sheet titled "Crisis in Ethiopia's Amhara Region."

Political violence in Amhara Region has reached new levels of intensity.  Persistent insecurity in Amhara Region poses a significant threat to the federal government, the Abiy administration, and Ethiopia's stability.  This report documents incidents in Amhara and those aimed at Amhara in other regions.  

Fragile Peace in Sudan and Ethiopia Borderlands

 The Rift Valley Institute published on 27 March 2023 a paper titled "Resistance in the Peripheries: Civil War and Fragile Peace in Sudan & Ethiopia's Borderlands."

The government of Ethiopia has historically supported the Sudan People's Liberation Movement/Army (SPLM/A) while the government in Sudan has supported the Benishangul People's Liberation Movement (BPLM) in Ethiopia.  At the moment there is not a military relationship between the SPLM/A and the Ethiopian government.  Since 2020, however, the BPLM has received military support from the Sudanese government and its military.  

Podcast on Ethiopia's 21 June Election

 The International Crisis Group (ICG) posted on 16 June 2021 a 34-minute podcast titled "Ethiopia's Rocky Transitional Election" with William Davison, ICG's senior analyst for Ethiopia.

Ethiopia is holding parliamentary elections on 21 June.  Violent flare-ups in parts of the country, a poll boycott by some opposition political parties, and postponed votes in several locations cast a shadow over the election.  

Amhara Move into Western Tigray

 Foreign Policy (subscription only) posted on 28 April 2021 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Tigray War Is Fueling Amhara Expansionism" by Kjetil Tronvoll, Bjorknes University College in Oslo.

The commentary reviews the disputed land claims in Western Tigray by Amhara and Tigrayans, concluding that Amhara militia have used the conflict in Tigray Region to remove most Tigrayans from land claimed by Amhara and incorporate it into Amhara Region.  

Eritreans Still Not Withdrawing from Tigray

 Reuters published on 22 April 2021 a brief article titled "U.S. Sees No Sign of Eritrean Withdrawal from Tigray, Urges Pullout."

A US State Department spokesperson said Eritrean forces have not yet begun to leave Tigray Region and urged them to do so.  The article comes with a two minute video clip of the situation in Tigray.

Ethiopian Crisis Threatens Wider Region

 The United States Institute of Peace (USIP) reprinted on 13 January 2021 a commentary titled "Ethiopia's Worsening Crisis Threatens Regional, Middle East Security" by Payton Knopf, USIP, and Jeffrey Feltman, Brookings.

The authors argue that Ethiopia's escalating internal crises pose an increasingly grave threat not only to the country's citizens but to international peace and security and to the interests of the United States and its partners in the Middle East.  

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's Account of the Conflict in Tigray

 Ethiopia Insight published on 22 December 2020 the full transcript of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's 30 November 2020 address to Parliament.

This is Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's lengthy account of the background and events leading up to the outbreak of conflict in Tigray Region through the end of November.  

Ethiopia: When Is a Coup a Coup and Other Issues

Ethiopia Insight published on 11 July 2019 a piece titled "Gloves Are Off" by Negash Haile.

This is a selected translation of remarks by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed responding to questions in Parliament on 1 July. He covers a variety of issues, including the recent coup d'etat attempt, ethnic federalism, Benishangul-Gumuz Region, Somali Region, Sudan and Egypt.

Ethiopia: Regional Land Disputes Add to Displaced Persons

Ethiopia Insight published on 8 March 2019 an analysis titled "Benishangul Conflict Spurred by Investment, Land Titling, Rumors" by Mehdi Labzae, French Center for Ethiopian Studies.

A land dispute involving the Gumuz and Oromo people in western Ethiopia has resulted in the displacement of more than 150,000 persons, mostly Oromo. A donor-sponsored land registration program and agricultural investment contributed to the conflict.

Ethiopia: Preventing the Pot from Boiling Over

Ethiopia Insight posted on 12 February 2019 an analysis titled "Ethiopia Uncorked" by Leake Tewele, reporter in Addis Ababa, and Kulle Kursha, Hawassa University.

Regional and ethnic conflict has displaced more than 1 million Ethiopians since 2017 and there are almost 3 million IDPs in the country. This situation poses a serious challenge to the Abiy Ahmed government.

Ethnic Conflict in Western Ethiopia

Ethiopia Insight posted on 16 November 2018 a story titled "Turmoil Blocks Aid As Communal Conflict Rages in Gold-seamed Benishangul-Gumuz" by William Davison and "Mistir Sew."

The article reports on ethnic conflict, exacerbated by gold mining, in the border region between Benishangul-Gumuz and Oromia states in western Ethiopia.

Ethnic Violence in Ethiopia

Ethiopia Insight posted on 4 October 2018 an article titled "Tens of Thousands Flee Benishangul after Oromia Border Dispute Flares" by Ermias Tasfaye, Ethiopia Insight, and Soloman Yimer, freelance journalist.

Benishangul-Gumuz is Ethiopia's latest region to experience ethnic violence as the Gumuz community reportedly attacked Oromo and Amhara residents. Tens of thousands have been displaced.

Ethnic Violence in Ethiopia

Ethiopia Insight published on 26 September 2018 an analysis titled "Mob Killings Split Ethiopians As Political Fault Lines Test Abiy's Big Tent" by Nizar Manek, Addis Ababa correspondent for Bloomberg News, and Ermias Tasfaye, Ethiopia Insight reporter.

This is an account of the recent ethnic violence in various parts of Ethiopia and the threat that it poses to the unity of the country.

Mechanized Farming and Villagization in Ethiopia

The Washington-based Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars published in August 2014 an analysis titled "Governing the Horn of Africa's Lowlands: Land Investments and Villagization in Gambella, Ethiopia" by Fana Gebresenbet Erda, a research scholar with the Africa Program of the Wilson Center.

He notes that the Ethiopian government is promoting commercial mechanized farming and villagization.  The government's goal for the villagization program is to provide new skills to farmers and herders so that they can engage in modern settled agriculture, farming, and livestock rearing.  One of the problems encountered with the program has been a lack of prior consultation.  The United States government has begun limiting the funding that can be used for the villagization program.