18/04/2025
Massacre in East Gojjam: Over 150 Amhara Civilians Killed in Alleged Drone Attack by Abiy Ahmed’s Regime
Tragedy struck the Enarj Ena Enawga district of East Gojjam this week when more than 150 Amhara civilians were reportedly killed in a series of drone strikes in Gedeb Kebele. According to statements by Mareshet Tsehaue, spokesperson for the Amhara Fano resistance movement, the attacks were carried out by drones operated by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's regime.
The strikes reportedly occurred in rapid succession three in one minute targeting a local market, groups of civilians preparing for the Fasika (Ethiopian Orthodox Easter) holiday, and others involved in housing construction efforts. Eyewitnesses and local sources describe a scene of chaos and carnage as unarmed civilians were caught in what has been called a simultaneous and indiscriminate aerial assault.
“This is a deliberate massacre,” Fano spokesman Mareshet Tsehaue declared in a public statement. “These people were not fighters. They were shoppers, families preparing for a holy day, and civilians building homes. Abiy Ahmed’s regime is attempting to falsely blame Fano fighters and turn the Amhara people against us.”
Fano Tsehaue condemned the drone attacks as part of a broader strategy by the federal government to crush dissent and delegitimize the Amhara resistance movement. He warned that the regime is intentionally sowing confusion and division within the Amhara population by attributing civilian casualties to Fano operations despite compelling local testimony to the contrary.
Calling the incident "a desperate and brutal act," Fano Tsehaue issued a passionate appeal to Amhara people across Ethiopia and the diaspora: “Rise up. Defend our people. Resist the oppressive and genocidal regime that seeks to erase us.”
He also called upon the international community including foreign governments, international media, and human rights organizations to intervene immediately. “This massacre cannot go unanswered. Silence is complicity,” he said. “We urge the world to apply pressure on the Ethiopian government to halt the systematic killing of Amhara civilians.”
So far, there has been no official acknowledgment or response from federal authorities regarding the drone strikes.
Human rights groups have repeatedly warned about the escalation of violence in Amhara regions following the outbreak of conflict between Abye Ahmed regime and local Fano fighters. Reports of targeted killings, arbitrary arrests, and drone warfare have drawn concern from watchdog organizations, though international response has remained limited.
As the country prepares to observe Fasika, many families in Gedeb Kebele are instead left mourning loved ones and grappling with the trauma of a sudden and devastating attack. Community leaders fear more violence could follow, as tensions between the Amhara population and the Abye Ahmed oppressive regime continue to rise.