In response to the escalating clashes between the military and local militiamen in the Amhara region, Ethiopia’s federal government declared a state of emergency on Friday.
The fighting, which erupted earlier this week between the Fano militia and the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF), has rapidly evolved into a severe security crisis.
The Amhara regional government sought additional assistance from federal authorities to restore order in the area, prompting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s office to issue the statement announcing the state of emergency. However, the statement did not specify whether the emergency measures would only apply to the Amhara region or extend throughout the entire country.