The name Fano invokes different feelings for different groups in contemporary Ethiopia. For the the Amharans it represents a type of militia that guards their interests in their region and Ethiopia as general. For the radicalized Oromos it is seen as force that wants to impose a Unitarian order and expansionist force that is ready to take their land and claim it as its own. For the radicalized Tigrayans it is seen as an expansionist militia that threatens their live hood i.e by claiming the Welqayet-Humera zone.
But for the general Ethiopia Fano is seen as a savior that is trying to emancipate the country not only from tyranny but from ethnic rule of law. But there is doubt the current Fano groups are willing to dismantle ethnic politics and establish a new system based on geography. So who is this new militia that is making waves across the Amhara region?
The name Fano can be traced back to the the 1930’s that volunteered to fight the Fascist Italy’s occupation of Ethiopia. During those dark era all of Ethiopia’s patriots claimed they are Fanos. Again during the student protest era of the 1960’s and 70’s university and high school students of all ethnic background agitated the mass to rise up against the autocratic rule Emperor Haileselassie I by saying “Oh
Fano rise up like Ho Chi Minh and Che Guevara” After the fall of the Derg rule(1974-1991) Ethiopian politics landscaped changed forever. The coalition of EPRDF which included many veteran fighters like
Colonel Fentahun Muhabe, Brigadier general Tefera Mamo, Lieutenant General Tadesse Worede, Lieutenant General Tsadkan G/tennsay, General Abebaw Tadesse and others seized power, the group was dominated by then the powerful and the much organized TPLF. After the seizure of power by the EPRDF Ethiopian politics was reorganized along ethnic lines.
After the late Ethiopian PM and TPLF’s strongman Meles Zenawi died in 2012 TPLF started losing grip. EPRDF’s controversial land policy in Oromia angered the Oromo youth. Oromo Qeroo across Oromia started protesting started in 2014. Then the Amhara followed not only protesting bare hand but some sort of armed resistance followed and the name Fano started appearing again, this time only to
highlight the Amhara protest movement. After that Fano is only used exclusively to describe armed Amhara youth.
Even though Fano have a history of involvement in armed clashes with OLA, militants from Benishangul-Gumuz region, ENDF and Qimant militants the decisive moment in Fano’s history came during and after the 2020 civil war in Northern Ethiopia. During this time Fano with ASF(Amhara Special Force) took the initiative to restore the disputed areas of Welqayet, Tselemet, Tegede, Humera, Ofla and Raya in to the region which garnered them the respect among Amharans.
During the war Fano captured weapons and developed a fighting skill in a conventional manner. It was at this time Fano learned how to operate DSHK machine gun which is considered a back bone to an infantry army. When Tigray forces started advancing toward the capital ASF members and Fano groups started
blaming ENDF for not putting a stiff resistance and for not giving them heavy weapon cover which they lack. This was not tolerated by the federal government.
The federal government which is dominated by Oromo PP was uneasy since the late General Asaminew Tsige started organizing and arming ASF and bolstering its rank by recruiting radicalized Fano members.
After the signing of the Pretoria agreement the federal government saw Amhara ASF members as a threat. In order to counter this threat it decided to disband all regional forces across the country. The disbandment of regional forces was only an immediate cause for the war in Amhara. The underlying cause was the systematic displacement of Amharans from Oromia , BG and the aggression of Oromo militants in Oromia special zone which left Ataye to be burned for over 10 times. This coupled with perceived nexus between Oromia PP and TPLF caused the war in Amhara. According to Amhara PP official over 56 percent of ASF refused to be disarmed and joined Fano to fight the government. This move was decisive, it strengthened Fano not only in number and weapon but also in military organization.
The first shot was fired in North Shewa of the Amhara region given it’s proximity to the capital. In this zone there are two Fano factions that are led by Meketaw Mamo and Aseged Mekonen. The zone known for its fertile land and rugged mountains helped Fano to counter government offensives and strengthen its forces (Shewa Fano is heavily armed group in Amhara).
Then the government faced a stiff resistance in West Gojam. Most people thought Eskinder Nega was the one that organized Gojam Fano but it is far from the truth. In West Gojam specifically in Dega Damot and Qwarit the individuals that organized Fano are Zenabu lengrew and Yenealem Zeleke respectively. Before 2018 both of them were in Eritrea and Yenealem was recruited to join ASF by General Asaminew Tsige.
After the general’s death Fano Yenealem spent his time in Metekel zone and his hometown Qwarit organizing Amharans. This group of Fano amassed many recruits and vast weapons in short period of time then they named their faction Gojam Ize( Gojam command). Another faction of Fano that was active in East and Awi zone Gojam were Zemene Kasse’s Amhara Popular Force. These two factions merged to call themselves ‘Amhara Fano In Gojam’ in a historic gathering called ‘Dimama Declaration’. They are led
by Zemene and Zinabu as its deputy.
In Gonder currently there are two factions who are in a process of merging into one group just like their Gojam brothers. One faction is led by Major Habte Wolde which included the veteran Fano Mesafinet Tesfu and it is called ‘Gonder Fano Command’. The other faction is led by the veteran Baye Kenaw and is named ‘Amhara Fano in Gonder’ this faction included the late Wubante Abate.
In Wello there was two factions now they’re merged in two one and they are called ‘Amhara Fano Wello Command’, led by Mere Wedajo and the veteran Col. Fentahun Muhabe as its deputy.
Fano is the biggest stake holder in Amhara region and the new player in the tumultuous Horn of Africa. Oromo and Tigray politicians and activists that used to talk about Amhara in a contemptuous manner is changing their tone and adapting to the new reality. Fano time and again is proving to be a force to reckon with.
With massive popular support and high moral Fano fighters are fighting ENDF, strike police, regional militias and police. In a short period of time they are armed with mortars, DSHK, PKM and RPGs and in a process of establishing one Fano command. Regional government is currently collapsing and under the tutelage of ENDF. If federal forces withdrew from the region Fano will sweep across the region. That’s why the federal government is sending thousands of fresh troops in to Amhara. If ENDF can’t contain the insurgency the insurgents are bound to advance to the capital. Will Amhara Fano advance towards the capital and dismantle the much hated PP regime? Time will tell!
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