By: Amanuel Agajjie Wasihun
Since 2018, the Amhara community has endured an unrelenting wave of violent attacks and systematic marginalization. The Amhara people have suffered repeated and targeted atrocities, including rapes, killings, the slaughter of entire families, drone strikes on civilian gatherings, and mass executions. Villages have been burned to the ground, places of worship bombarded, public buses hijacked, and students abducted. Displacement has torn communities apart, while the fundamental rights to safety, security, and free movement have been consistently denied. In many instances, these acts occurred with little or no protection from the state, leaving the Amhara people profoundly vulnerable.
What compounds this suffering is the perceived indifference of the very government entrusted with their protection. As blood was spilled and families mourned, public attention was often diverted to political theatrics—such as highly publicized tree-planting campaigns—gestures widely seen as a cruel contrast to the ongoing loss of life.
This document compiles the major tragedies, massacres, and human rights violations committed against the Amhara people during Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s tenure, from 2018 to the present. It draws from eyewitness testimonies, reputable news agencies, and respected human rights organizations. Its purpose is to provide a clear, factual, and enduring record of the immense suffering inflicted upon one of Ethiopia’s largest and most historic ethnic groups.
This record exists so that no one in the future can truthfully claim, “We did not know.” It aims to ensure that future generations—both Amhara and non-Amhara—understand the scale of loss, the depth of suffering, and the deliberate nature of the violence endured. It stands as a testimony to the dead, a voice for the displaced, and a warning to the living that such crimes must never be repeated. By preserving these accounts, history will bear witness to these tragedies and hold accountable those who allowed them to occur.
26 Jul 2018 — Death of Engineer Simegnew Bekele
The suspicious killing of the GERD project manager raised fears of political targeting amid broader unrest affecting Amhara political interests.
14–16 Sep 2018 — Burayu ethnic violence
Ethnic Amharas and other non-Oromo groups were violently attacked around Addis Ababa’s outskirts, seen as part of broader Oromo Liberation Front (OLF) ethnic tensions with the regime’s tacit allowance or failure to protect Amharas.
22 Jun 2019 — Killing of Amhara Regional President Dr. Ambachew Mekonnen, B/General Asamnew Tsigie and other officials
Part of a systematic effort by Abiy Ahmed to destabilize Amhara leadership through targeted assassinations.
Nov 2019 — Abduction of ~17 Amhara studentsfrom Dembi Dolo University Amhara students fleeing ethnic violence were abducted, reflecting government negligence and possible deliberate targeting of Amhara civilians.
2 Nov 2020 — Gawa Qanqa / related massacres
Dozens of ethnic Amhara civilians were killed in Oromia, with reports accusing the regime of failing to prevent or even enabling attacks by Oromo militant groups.
9–10 Nov 2020 — Mai Kadra massacre
Over 600 ethnic Amhara civilians were massacred by the TPLF-Army 70 (Samri) group in Mai Kadra. The attack involved door-to-door killings and was widely condemned as a targeted ethnic atrocity.
Mar–Apr 2021 — Ataye and surrounding clashes
Massive ethnic violence and displacement mainly targeting Amhara communities, with alleged regime tolerance toward Oromo militants attacking Amhara civilians.
Jul–Aug 2021 — Gida Kiremu Massacres
Scores of Amhara civilians killed by OLA insurgents, with reports accusing the federal government of either supporting or ignoring attacks against Amharas.
30 Oct 2021 — Kombolcha summary executions
Over 100 Amhara youths were reportedly executed following TDF advances; the regime was accused of allowing anti-Amhara forces to carry out atrocities.
18 Jun 2022 — Gimbi (Tole) massacre
Over 400 Amhara civilians massacred in West Wollega; Amnesty called for investigations into alleged state complicity or failure to protect Amharas.
4 Jul 2022 — Qelem Wollega / Lemlem Kebele massacre
Large-scale killing of Amhara civilians, attributed to Oromo insurgents with claims that government security forces did not intervene.
2020–2023 — Benishangul-Gumuz massacres
Repeated massacres and displacement of Amhara in Metekel and nearby areas; activists and reports point to patterns of ethnic cleansing with government neglect or tacit support.
Aug 2023 — Amhara state of emergency (Fano–ENDF clashes)
Restrictions and displacement disproportionately impacted Amhara civilians, with curfews and mobility limits seen as attempts to suppress Amhara resistance groups.
Late 2022–2024 — Travel restrictions and discriminatory checkpoints
Amhara residents faced systematic bans and evictions near Addis Ababa, reflecting targeted discrimination facilitated or enforced by authorities.
2023–2025 (recurrent) — Bus hijackings and mass abductionsin Oromia
Frequent kidnappings of Amhara passengers, with little effective government protection, suggesting complicity or deliberate neglect.
25 May 2023 — Debre Elias Monastery bombardment, East Gojam
Heavy weapons attack on Amhara monastery with contested casualty numbers; highlighted ongoing targeted violence and lack of accountability.
2023–2024 — Crackdowns on Fano / Amhara special forces
Federal operations resulted in mass arrests and extrajudicial killings of Amhara militia members, reflecting efforts to weaken Amhara self-defense.
29–30 Jan 2024 — Merawi massacre
Federal troops allegedly executed dozens of Amhara civilians in a door-to-door campaign, exemplifying direct targeting by government forces.
17 Apr 2025 — Gedeb drone strike
A drone strike killed over 100 civilians in an Amhara community event; monitors called for investigations into possible deliberate targeting of Amhara civilians.
2023–Apr 2025 (ongoing) — Humanitarian crisis
Displacement, school closures, food insecurity, and demolitions disproportionately affected Amhara populations, aggravated by government-imposed restrictions and limited humanitarian access.
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1). You Can’t Have It Both Ways: Ethiopians elected Abiy’s Party with on-site scrutiny by AU/EU/UN/US/etc. Armed Insurrection against any elected government all over the world is Domestic Terrorism [DT]. Here, local Proxy Foreign Agents [PFA] fuel DT.
2). Crime|War Crime [WC]|Crimes against Humanity [CAH]: Using Civilians as Human Shields [HS] like these PFA [‘Amara Fanno’/OLF-IFLO/TPLF-TDF/etc.] is WC & CAH. Aiding & Abetting [A&A] criminals is Crime, too. A&A Domestic Terrorists [DTs] is DT, too.
3). Ambachew|Asaminew|TPLF/EPRDF: TPLF stripped Asaminew of his rank & sent him to jail for life. When Abiy took over, Ambachew & Co. asked Abiy to release him. Abiy did and even reinstated his rank. Ambachew & Co. made Asaminew the Amara Security Chief. Asaminew gunned down Ambachew & Co. How Ungrateful is that!
4). Disinformation Campaign to Put the Amaras in Oromia in Harms Way: More Amaras live in Oromia than in the Amara State itself [Ref.: youtu.be/IXBVqbOe9uY?t=2320]. Of the ≈30 million Amaras, >15 million live in Oromia; ≈ 5 million in Addis; etc. [Compare: I met no Oromo in Gojjam & Gonder during many sojourns over many years.]
5). Amaras & ‘Amara Rights Advocates [ARA]’: The ARA should stop its self-serving crocodile tears for Amaras while doing every evil thing under the Sun to Amaras.
i). Eskinder using Debre-Elias as his Base & Monks as HS: youtu.be/pHfPNs2Xr9k?t=1
ii). ‘Fanno’ derailed Amaras’ Food Security Road Map: youtu.be/_ejBczkTHlA?t=300
iii). ‘Fanno’ Burned Down & Destroyed Amara Agro-Farms: youtu.be/xvv-gCotkVo
iv). ‘Fanno’ Massacred Wollega’s Oromos [2022]: youtu.be/mj0_41cu5tM?t=7
v). OLF-IFLO Terrorizing/Killing/Looting Oromos: youtu.be/cANXma3Mn9Y
We should not forget that Amhara problem is partly self-inflicted. Let’s also remember when we talk of Amhara we are talking about power-hungry elite (such as Eskinder “the great” and Derg Major Dawit (drawing retirement in America). The other day, a gov official in Debre-Brhan (an Amhara) was killed by another Amhara (Fano). There you go. Amhara killing Amhara. Amhara destroying infrastructure and robbing poor population and banks. Soon beautiful BahrDar will be burned down. I think Fano is competing with Weyane as to set a record on getting the highest number of people killed! The tragedy is that no one on pain of death and/or torture is allowed speak up against this madness. In other words, FEAR! Guess what? Many financing the conflict are Amhara residing in Europe, Australia, and America. Amhara/Fano has made it clear it is fighting to reclaim Ethiopia’s glory. Problem? It is willing to get help from Isaias and Egypt! The latter two, of course, are well-worn merchants of death.