List of Fano militia factions

Fano is an ethno-nationalist Amhara militia and former protest movement that first emerged in 2010s. Ideologically Amhara nationalist and Pan-Ethiopianist, Fano has been engaged with several wars and civil conflicts in Ethiopia, and were a major belligerent in the Tigray War and the OLA insurgency.

The Ethiopian flag with no emblem is widely advocated by the Fano militia

Background

Relations between the Ethiopian government and Fano aggravated in 2023 which ultimately resulted in the ongoing War in Amhara. During the course of conflict, the Fano militia controlled most of Amhara region and is composed of six major factions operating in the zones and districts of the Amhara region. These factions are:

• Amhara People's Army (led by Eskinder Nega)
• Wollo faction (led by Mihretu Wodajo)
• Gojjam faction (led by Zemene Kassie)
• North Gondar faction (led by Habte Wolde)
• South Gondar faction (led by Baye Kengaw)
• Shewa faction (led by Meketaw Mamo)

Wollo Fano

The Fano faction in Wollo is led by Mihretu "Mire" Wodajo and commanded by Command division of Fano under Colonel Fantahun Muhabe. In April 2024, the division said to be reached an agreement the federal government under single command.^[1] Like other divisions, the Wollo faction is actively operating in the Amhara Region and engaging in fighting against Ethiopian government forces.^[2] In July 2024, the Ethiopian security forces captured the division's logistic supplier in South Wollo Zone.^[3]

Gojjam Fano

The Gojjam Fano is co-headed by Asres Mare and Zemene Kassie. In August 2024, the Gojjam Fano has been undertaking special operation after the ENDF deployed 30,000 troops As part of their strategy, the division restricted any vehicular movement, only ambulance allowed for transportation.^[4][5][6] The Gojjam Fano was rumored to have reached an agreement with the government. Meanwhile, the head of the foreign and diaspora affairs department for the division Simeneh Mulatu dismissed this rumor, stating that there have not been any talks or negotiations with the government.^[7] On 26 March 2024, the ENDF Brigadier General Gaddissa Diro was killed in the Dega Damo area of Gojjam.^[8]

Gondar Fano

The Gondar Fano is headed by Baye Kengaw, and Mesafint Tesfu is the leader of the Amhara Fano Unity in Gondar (AFUiG).^[9] The group played a crucial role in operations during the August 2023 fight against the ENDF troops, capturing the Gondar city until being pushed back by the government troops on 8 August.^[10] On 20 March 2024 Major Wubante Abate, a prominent Fano leader and founder of Guna Brigade of Fano forces in South Gondar, was reportedly killed in action. He was killed in Dera district, Gelawdowos area after a long battle with the government forces.^[11] On 4 April 2024, the Fano units in South Gondar claimed to have killed 52 ENDF soldiers, while 36 were reportedly wounded. The operation, codenamed "Zemecha Operation Wubante", was executed in response to Wubante's death in the same region.^[12][13]

Habte Wolde (Amharic: ሀብቴ ወልዴ) leads the North Gondar Command. Since 2023 he has partaken in the War in Amhara, fighting against the government forces. Wolde was born and raised in Gondar. Although he had no involvement in any political groups or armed struggle movements during the early reforms of Abiy Ahmed, he did participate in Fano youth movements in Amhara region to end the persecution of Amhara people.^[14][15] After 2019–2020 Habte joined the Fano movement, asserting the persecution of Amhara would end by armed response. When the Tigray war broke out, he fought alongside Fano militants in various fronts, supporting the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) force. As Habte's group was successful in collecting weapons and professional combating, the government targeted Habte and the war in Amhara broke out. Since 2023 Habte has lead the North Gondar Command and, as of 2024, his battalion is said to have increased significantly.^[14][15]

Shewa Fano

The Shewa Fano is led by Meketaw Mamo under the name Shewa Province Command.^[16] On 3 March 2024, Fano forces captured Shewa Robit town. Mamo Bridge confirmed to Anchor Media that the town is under control and fighting is take place. After the government withdrew from the mountainous region, it was alleged that the government troops targeted artillery shelling in the town.^[17] In July, the division reportedly engaged fighting with joint ENDF–militia force in a location about 55 kilometers to the capital Addis Ababa. According to an Ethiopian Media Services (EMS) report, the government force deployed shelling at Koremash town, in Hageremariam Kessem woreda, with heavy artillery indiscriminately. Deputy Public Relation Head of the Amhara Fano Shewa Nigatu Yitaferu, the Fano forces have withdrew from the town to avoid civilian causality, while ambushing into the rural areas.^[18] On 22 July, Shewa's Fano leader Assegid Mekonnen has been surrendered by the Ethiopian security forces.^[19][20]

Amhara People's Army

The Amhara People's Army was founded by Eskinder Nega in Gojjam on 20 May 2023.^[21] It was initially named as the Amhara People's Front (APF).^[22][23][24] It was rumored that Eskinder was allied to other Fano groups and he was hidden.^[25]

See also

• War in Amhara
• Fano (militia)