ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia's federal government declared a state of emergency in the Amhara region on Friday following days of clashes between the military and local militiamen.
The clashes, which broke out earlier this week, have quickly become a major security crisis. The Amhara government has requested additional help from federal authorities to reimpose order.
The state of emergency gives the government sweeping powers to detain suspects, restrict movement, and censor the media. It is not yet clear how long the state of emergency will last.
"The state of emergency is necessary to protect the people of Amhara from the violence and instability that has gripped the region," said Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in a statement. "We will not tolerate those who seek to sow chaos and division."
The clashes between the military and the Fano militiamen began on Monday, August 1. The Fano militia is a group of ethnic Amhara fighters who have been fighting alongside the Ethiopian military in the country's ongoing civil war.
The clashes in Amhara have displaced thousands of people and caused widespread damage. The United Nations estimates that more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in the region.
The state of emergency is the second time that Ethiopia has declared a state of emergency in the past year. The first state of emergency was declared in November 2021 in response to the Tigrayan regional government's offensive against federal forces.
The declaration of the state of emergency in Amhara has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have welcomed the move, saying that it is necessary to restore order in the region. Others have criticized the move, saying that it is a sign of the government's weakness and that it will only further escalate the violence.
It remains to be seen how the state of emergency will impact the situation in Amhara. However, it is clear that the region is in a state of crisis and that the government is struggling to maintain control.