An airstrike was conducted on August 13, 2023, targeting the Ethiopian community of Finote Selam. This unfortunate incident resulted in the deaths of 26 individuals and left 55 others wounded. The airstrike specifically aimed at a truck carrying civilians who had just delivered food to the Fano militia group. Although the calm was said to have been restored in the area, this attack indicates ongoing clashes between local militia members and the Ethiopian military.
The airstrike took place in the heart of the Finote Selam community, causing significant devastation. The impact instantly claimed the lives of 22 individuals, and several of the wounded required amputations for survival. While witnesses reported that the truck carrying civilians was the target, it remains unverified.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission recently released a statement acknowledging the occurrence of confirmed strikes and shelling in Finote Selam and other Amhara towns. These attacks have resulted in a substantial number of civilian casualties. Furthermore, regional officials in Amhara have also become targets, leading to the temporary collapse of local state structures in several areas.
As a response to the escalating violence, Ethiopia’s Cabinet declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region. The Fano militia, which previously fought alongside the Ethiopian military in the neighboring Tigray region, seems to be at the center of the conflict. This unrest has led to the mass arrest of hundreds, potentially thousands, of individuals in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa. The emergency measures grant authorities the power to make arrests without warrants, conduct searches, and impose curfews.
Ethnic Amhara individuals appear to be the primary targets of these arrests. Lawyers and witnesses have confirmed the widespread detainment of ethnic Amhara civilians in police stations, schools, and makeshift detention centers. During a visit to various locations, one lawyer found hundreds of individuals held in custody, while another lawyer, citing police sources, reported a total of 3,000 arrests in Addis Ababa.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission has called for the limitation of the state of emergency to one month and the confinement of its application to the specific areas facing significant threats, rather than implementing it nationwide.
Overall, this airstrike and subsequent events highlight the ongoing turmoil and violence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region. Immediate measures need to be taken to ensure the protection and safety of all civilians caught in the crossfire.
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