In light of the intensifying violent confrontations between the national army and local fighters in Amhara, the federal government of Ethiopia on Friday announced a six-month ‘state of emergency’.
Merely nine months after the devastating two-year war in the neighbouring Tigray region came to an end, Africa’s second-most populous country is presently grappling with fresh tension with the involvement of fighters from Amhara.
‘It has become necessary to declare a state of emergency as a situation has emerged where it has become difficult to control this unacceptable movement under current law,’ the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement shared on social media.
As clarified by the government communications service, the measures are slated for a six-month period, with the focus on Amhara, yet they have the capacity to be enforced nationwide should any situation or movement aggravate the security problem.
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The situation in Amhara has seen a surge in clashes in recent weeks, resulting in foreign governments issuing travel advisories and the suspension of flights.
Since April, tensions have been steadily increasing due to the federal government’s decision to disband regional forces, including those in Amhara. This move has ignited fears among nationalists about the potential weakening of the region.
The local authorities in Amhara reached out to the federal government on Thursday, seeking assistance in managing security as the situation had become ‘difficult to control’ and was resulting in serious disruptions to both social and economic facet.
The government said the violence ‘endangered the constitutional order’ and the decision to invoke a state of emergency was ‘unanimous’.
According to the decree, street rallies and gatherings are banned, while anyone found violating its provisions could face ‘imprisonment of between three to ten years’.
The decree also confers upon the authorities the right to declare curfews and conduct searches and detentions of suspects without the requirement of a warrant.