Banking services have been suspended in several towns of the North Shewa zone in the Amhara region. Reportedly, in Menz Lalo District Wegere town, Geshe Rabel District Rabel town, Anchokia Gemza District Mekoi town and Qowet District Rasa town banks are closed. Both government and private banks are closed. The banks have been closed since the 13th of June. In Majete city, which is part of Antsochia Gemza district, banks are providing limited services.
The service was terminated after the banks received an emergency order from the command post in charge of the Shewa area. Since last year, fighting has been ongoing between Amhara Fano militias and Ethiopian security forces in the Amhara region. Banks have been closed mostly in those towns which are under Fano control.
On June 13, 2024, the Rema branch of the Commercial Bank of Ethiopia, located in the Mida Woremo Woreda of the Northern Shewa Zone in the Amhara Region, was robbed of over 2 million birr by Fano militias reportedly.
Among the districts where banking services have been cut off, including Menz Lalo district’s Wegere town, Geshe district’s Rabel town, are under the control of Fano militants while Mekoi, the headquarters of Antiochia Gemza district, is under the control of government forces. Government forces retook control of Mekoi this same week.
US, EU and others have been urging Fano militias and the Ethiopian government to start dialogue to end this conflict. Humanitarian cost of the conflict in the Amhara region is gradually rising. Last week, education authorities in Gojjam and Shewa announced that thousands of students could not take the 6th and 8th grade exams due to unrest in these zones.
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