The governments of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America have expressed their concern about the violence in Amhara region of Ethiopia.
“The governments of Australia, Japan, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America are concerned about the recent violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions, which has resulted in civilian deaths and instability,” they said in a statement released today.
“We encourage all parties to protect civilians, respect human rights, and to work together to address complex issues in a peaceful manner. The international community continues to support the goal of long-term stability for all Ethiopians,” the statement concluded. The five countries are among the major development partners and donors to varrious projects in Ethiopia.
It is recalled that in recent months Ethiopia has turned to another civil war in Amhara region after concluding two years of bloody civil war in the northern part in Tigray region. So far it is not clear how many people have died because the government blocked the major socil media outlets for months before ending the blocked a few weeks ago.
The federal government of Ethiopia claimed that the Fano, the armed group in Amhara region is illegally armed and threat to the stability of the country and needs to be disarmed.
On the contrary the group argues that the Abiy Ahmed administration has conspired with the TPLF to put in danger the lives of people in Amhara region by disarming them. The Fano and Amhara militia and other militias from different regions of Ethiopia have supported and fought alongside the Ethiopian national defense force during the fight with the TPLF.