For generations, Ethiopia’s Amhara community formed the backbone of the nation’s political, cultural, and religious identity. Yet today, they find themselves at the center of a humanitarian and political crisis — facing displacement, targeted violence, and deepening marginalization. Over the past six decades, the Amhara story has transformed from that of empire builders to victims of successive waves of conflict and political exclusion.
From Empire to Exile: A Historical Overview
The Amhara are among Ethiopia’s largest and most historically influential ethnolinguistic groups. Their influence once anchored the imperial state, but since the 1970s, their political and social standing has been steadily eroded through cycles of revolution, war, and ethnically driven governance.
1. The Derg Regime (1974–1991): Revolution and Repression
The fall of Emperor Haile Selassie in 1974 marked the end of the monarchy and the rise of the Derg — a Marxist military junta that sought to eradicate the old order. The regime executed the Emperor and the head of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Abune Tewophilos, symbolically dismantling the country’s traditional institutions.
In the name of socialist reform, the Derg executed dozens of senior officials — many of them Amhara — to eliminate the imperial elite. Although it claimed to champion equality, the regime’s policies of forced collectivization, mass conscription, and political purges devastated Amhara communities. Thousands died in wars in Eritrea and Tigray, while famine and government crackdowns left lasting scars across the Amhara heartland.
2. The EPRDF Era (1991–2018): Ethnic Federalism and Marginalization
The Derg’s collapse brought to power the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), dominated by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). Under the 1995 Constitution, the country adopted ethnic federalism — ostensibly granting autonomy to each major ethnic group. In practice, power remained concentrated in Tigray, while the Amhara National Democratic Movement (ANDM), the Amhara branch of the ruling coalition, held limited influence.
The EPRDF framed Ethiopia’s past as one of “Amhara domination,” positioning the group as historical oppressors rather than equal stakeholders. This narrative fostered resentment and reinforced divisions.
Early violence and displacement
In 1992, large-scale killings of Amhara civilians occurred in Arba Gugu and Bedeno, areas of present-day Oromia, at the hands of Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) militias. Victims were buried in mass graves, and the events were largely ignored by authorities. Over time, Amhara populations faced displacement from various regions, including Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz, and parts of the south.
By the 2000s, frustration among Amharas deepened, as they felt politically sidelined and economically neglected in a system that institutionalized ethnic boundaries. This growing sense of exclusion would later fuel a resurgence of Amhara nationalism.
3. The Prosperity Party Era (2018–Present): Hope Turned to Hostility
The rise of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in 2018 was initially greeted with optimism. His promises of reform, national reconciliation, and peace — particularly his rapprochement with Eritrea — raised hopes of a new beginning. Many Amharas saw his leadership as a chance to end decades of marginalization under TPLF dominance.
However, that optimism quickly gave way to disillusionment. Waves of ethnically motivated attacks against Amhara civilians erupted across several regions, particularly in Oromia and Benishangul-Gumuz. Critics accused the government of inaction — or complicity — in the face of mass killings and forced displacements.
Documented atrocities (2018–2023)
- Tole, West Wollega (2022): Over 400 Amhara civilians were reportedly killed.
- Hawa Gelan, Kelem Wollega (2022): Dozens massacred.
- Gawa Qanqa (2020) and Anno Town (2023): Internally displaced Amharas executed and buried in mass graves.
- Kiremu (2022): Reports of extrajudicial executions following security force withdrawals.
According to UN estimates, by 2024 millions were internally displaced across Ethiopia — with the Amhara among the most severely affected.
4. Repression and Resistance
Beginning in 2022, successive states of emergency granted security forces sweeping powers to detain individuals suspected of links to the Fano militia or Amhara activism. Thousands of journalists, opposition figures, and civilians were arrested without trial. Human rights organizations condemned the detentions as politically motivated and warned that such repression risked intensifying armed resistance.
5. The Tigray War and Its Fallout (2021–2022)
When conflict erupted between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), Amhara militias fought alongside federal forces. Yet as the Tigray Defense Forces advanced into Amhara and Afar regions, reports emerged of widespread atrocities — including killings, looting, and sexual violence.
Following the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, tensions flared between federal forces and Amhara militias, leading to renewed clashes and mistrust.
6. The 2023–2024 Amhara Conflict
In 2023, the federal government’s order to disarm regional special forces sparked armed confrontation across the Amhara region. A state of emergency was declared, and military operations in cities such as Bahir Dar, Gondar, and Debre Markos led to significant civilian casualties. Drone strikes and shelling were reported, prompting allegations of collective punishment by rights groups. The government defended its actions as necessary counterinsurgency measures.
For many Amharas, the campaign symbolized what they describe as “Abiy Ahmed’s war on Amhara.”
Faith, Trauma, and Uncertain Futures
The ongoing conflict has destroyed infrastructure, displaced entire communities, and left deep psychological wounds. The Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church — historically central to Amhara identity — has increasingly voiced concern over attacks on clergy and churches, which have further fueled resentment.
With limited avenues for justice or accountability, many Amharas have turned to armed resistance as a means of survival and self-defense.
The Road Ahead
Today, the Amhara people face an existential challenge. Once pillars of the Ethiopian state, they are now caught between state repression, inter-ethnic conflict, and humanitarian disaster. Despite repeated international calls for independent investigations into massacres and arbitrary detentions, meaningful accountability remains elusive.
The Amhara crisis stands as a stark reminder of Ethiopia’s unresolved questions of power, identity, and coexistence — and the profound human cost of their collision.
Editor’s Note: “This article is an independently written summary and analysis based on publicly available reports and historical sources, including coverage by DNE Africa. The embedded video is provided courtesy of DNE Africa’s official YouTube channel.“
