Ethiopian government is holding secret talks with Fano militias in the Amhara region. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Thursday that his government was holding secret talks with Fano forces. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said that giving “explanation on the policy of the Macroeconomic Reform Program”.
The PM met with Members of Parliament yesterday and explained government’s new macro economic reforms. In his speech, he said, “They have not disclosed it yet. If they disclose that, they could be killed.”
Fano groups have been denying holding talks with the Ethiopian government. There are dozens of Fano militias operating in Wollo, Gojjam, Gondar and Shewa zones of the Amhara region. Most of these groups are opposed to the idea of talks with government.
The Prime Minister said that one of the main obstacles to talks is that Fano groups are not united and there are internal conflict too. But the government has initiated the process of talks with some groups.
About two weeks ago, it was announced that a facilitation committee had been formed to pave the way for negotiations between the government and militias operating in the Amhara region.
Last year, the Ethiopian government held two rounds of “peace talks” in Tanzania with Oromo Liberation Army, the armed group based in the Oromia region of Ethiopia. The talks failed.
PM Abiy explained that the process being adopted in Amhara is the same as the one which was adopted to hold talks with the Oromo Liberation Army.
Since last year, the Ethiopian government has been conducting a military operating against Fano militias in the Amhara region. Thousands have been killed on both sides since the start of the military action.
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