The Fano movement in Ethiopia is a response to the significant injustice and systemic abuse of the Amhara people. The Amhara community is under existential threat, living under a harsh state of emergency and discriminated against under the constitutionally mandated apartheid system. Civil political struggle has become impossible with the imprisonment of political leaders, activists and journalists under Abiy Ahmed’s regime. Fano’s disarmament is similar to the genocide, ethnic cleansing and atrocities being perpetrated by groups such as the Oromo Liberation Front (OLF-Shene), the People’s Liberation Front of Tigray (TPLF) and current government actors. These raids caused huge human and material losses to the Amhara community and led to the rise of the Fano protest movement.
Genocide, ethnic cleansing and violence
The Amhara people have been subjected to genocide and genocide. Abiy Ahmed’s government, ONL-Shene and HHW have systematically attacked Amhara communities and committed widespread atrocities. These include mass killings, torture, rape, mass arrests and other inhuman acts committed against civilians in order to terrorize and displace the Amhara people, including preventing them from entering Addis Ababa, the capital of the region. These actions have resulted in massive loss of life and property as well as massive psychological damage and social disruption.
Millions of Amara have been forcibly displaced from their homes in Oromia, Benshangul, Wakait Pegede and Raya, creating one of Ethiopia’s worst humanitarian crises. Displaced people face a dire situation as they are unable to access basic needs such as food, shelter and medical care. This displacement disrupts life and livelihoods, causing long-term instability and suffering.
In the past three decades, the Amhara region has been deliberately impoverished by government policies that ignore infrastructure development and economic investment. As a result, the region has some of the poorest infrastructure in the country, including adequate roads, schools and healthcare facilities. The census was designed to reduce the registered Amhara population, which led to a reduction in federal budget allocations and other domestic and international financial support. This neglect has plunged the Amhara people into a cycle of poverty that is difficult to break.
Amhars are systematically excluded from the economic system and continue to suffer persecution. Economic opportunities are often denied, and marginalized by the public and private sectors. This isolation aggravated the economic problems faced by the Amhara community and contributed to poverty and underdevelopment.
Fano’s aim goes beyond protecting the Amhara people; Their aim is to cooperate with all Ethiopians to liberate them from the ethnic apartheid system and bring democracy and unite the nation. Fano is similar to many developed countries in advocating for the rights of individual citizens regardless of ethnic identity, instead of focusing solely on the rights of ethnic groups. This perspective promotes an inclusive and just society where the rights of all Ethiopians are respected and protected. Fano’s approach aims to overcome ethnic divisions and foster a common national identity.
Opposition to separatist movements
Fano’s vision is all-inclusive, unlike the groups formed by tribal armed groups such as ONL and HHWAT with the aim of secession from Ethiopia. Together with Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party, these groups have been promoting agendas that divide Ethiopia into ethnic groups, exacerbate divisions, incite conflicts and destroy national unity. Fano supports a democratic Ethiopia where the rule of law is respected and respected. Fano has demonstrated remarkable discipline in his work, maintaining his commitment to protecting civilians and public property. On the other hand, groups like ONG Sheena and TPLF start robbing banks and destroying and looting public property. Meanwhile, Abiy Ahmed and his associates are in deep corruption, squandering their hard-earned money on useless projects like a fifteen billion dollar palace. Unlike many armed groups and the Abiy government, which harms the people they claim to protect, Fano has demonstrated the ability to conduct the movement while minimizing harm to non-combatants. This discipline has earned them respect and support from various sections of the society.
