Mengistu

AMHARA FANO NATIONAL MOVEMENT Foreign Affairs Department Urgent Call for International Action regarding Indiscriminate Aerial Attacks in Ethiopia

Amhara Fano National Movement Condemns Genocidal Massacres in Arsi, Wollega and Other Parts of Ethiopia: An Urgent Call for International Action The Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM) strongly condemns recent genocidal massacres and acts of violence which has claimed hundreds of lives and displaced thousands in Arsi, Wollega and other parts of Ethiopia. AFNM extends its deepest condolences to families of victims and to communities mourning the tragic loss of loved ones. AFNM calls for immediate protection of vulnerable communities, credible independent investigations and urgent humanitarian relief. AFNM has received the following information of relevant incidents involving genocidal violence against Amhara civilians and followers of the Orthodox Christian faith in Arsi and Wollega since October 20: Over 60 killed in two attacks in Arsi: 14 in Merti district on October 20 and 46 in Sherka district on October 24. Gunmen surrounded families in their homes, opened fire, and burned houses to the ground. More than 20 people remain hospitalized with serious injuries. More than 300 killed in East Wollega and Horo Guduru Wollega since October 21; more than 40 killed in Abe Dengoro district on October 26 alone, many with machetes and knives. Survivor accounts indicate that women, children, and older persons were among the victims. Beyond the civilian toll, over 13 villages and three churches burned down, and more than 160,000 residents displaced from Gida Ayana since August. These incidents are not isolated and represent a pattern of state-sponsored violence with involvement from political and military officials at the federal and regional levels. For example, in Arsi, security forces stationed nearby refused to intervene while families were being killed. In the aftermath, authorities offered no condemnation, and no arrests were made. In Wollega, the violence was perpetrated directly by federal and Oromia regional security forces alongside militias, backed by sophisticated weaponry. In the majority of incidents, communications services were shut off during and after the attacks. AFNM calls upon the international community to move beyond expressions of concern and adopt concrete measures in response to reported mass killings and other grave human rights violations. Continued international inaction risks undermining the principles of human dignity, civilian protection, and accountability. AFNM therefore call upon: 1. The United Nations and the African Union to give the situation in Arsi and Wollega urgent attention, support independent investigations, and take appropriate measures to protect civilians and prevent further atrocities. 2. ⁠International and regional human rights institutions to document reported violations, preserve evidence, and pursue appropriate legal proceedings through competent national or international mechanisms, where the applicable legal requirements are met. 3. ⁠Relevant international and regional bodies to consider targeted sanctions and other appropriate measures against individuals and entities credibly implicated in serious human rights violations, in accordance with applicable legal frameworks and due process. 4. ⁠Humanitarian organizations and international partners to support affected communities by facilitating access to emergency medical care, food, shelter, psychosocial support, and other essential humanitarian assistance. The international community must not allow repeated atrocities against civilians to become normalized. The protection of innocent lives must take precedence over political considerations, and credible allegations of mass atrocities must receive a timely, impartial, and effective response. October 27, 2026