We appreciate the Guardian’s coverage of Ethiopia and the Amhara region. Accurate and balanced reporting is essential for informing the global public and supporting peace in the Horn of Africa. However, the government of Ethiopia wishes to clarify aspects of your recent photo essay (Inside Ethiopia’s Fano insurgency – photo essay, 1 December), as some claims do not fully reflect realities on the ground.
The article cites the Fano militias’ claim that they control more than 80% of the Amhara region. This is inaccurate. Development projects and security operations continue across the region, with the government maintaining oversight of population centres and institutions.
While photo essays capture aspects of life in the region, dramatic images and brief captions can oversimplify complex realities. Full context is essential for a balanced understanding.
The article also omits the government’s post-conflict restructuring of armed groups. Former Fano fighters were offered lawful options: integration into the national or regional security forces, or disarmament and civilian reintegration. Many accepted. This reflects the constitutional principle that the state alone holds the monopoly on force.
Finally, portrayals of the Pretoria peace agreement and the Fano movement are misleading. Fano, a civilian-turned-fighter group with no mandate to represent the Amhara people, claims the government betrayed them. In reality, federal officials, including Amhara representatives, negotiated with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front to end longstanding conflict and restore stability. The movement lacks democratic legitimacy, and its invocation of “Ethiopianness” misrepresents Ethiopia’s multi-ethnic identity and undermines the wellbeing of ordinary citizens.
Ethiopia remains committed to peace, dialogue and accountability. The recent peace agreement between Amhara state and the Amhara Fano Popular Organization illustrates this commitment. We urge media and international partners to support de-escalation, disarmament and constructive engagement, reflecting the region’s complex realities.
We hope that this response gives your readers a more complete and accurate understanding of developments in Ethiopia.
Biruk Mekonnen Demissie
Ambassador of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia to the UK
