Several Eskinder Nega Amhara Fano Commanders Surrender

Several Eskinder Nega Amhara Fano commanders have surrendered to the Ethiopian government forces in the last 2 weeks.

Eskinder Nega took up arms and joined Fano at the start of 2023. Before that he led a political party. Since 2023, he has been organizing his Fano group in the Amhara region. Zemene Kassie and some other Fano commanders have been opposing Eskinder Nega Fano.

At the start of this month, a central Fano organization was established. Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF) claims to be the only representative organization of all Fano groups. However Eskiner Nega, Mekataw, Colonel Fanthan and some other Fano commanders did not join AFNF.

Since the formation of AFNF, Fano commanders aligned with Eskinder Nega group have been facing threats and intimidation by AFNF. Tsedalu Dessie, Belete Andarge, Emmanuel Molla and some other tier 2 Fano commanders surrendered to the Ethiopian security forces in the last 2 weeks. Kefalew Dessie, another Fano commander affiliated with Eskinder Fano, was killed allegedly by AFNF last month. Most of the Eskinder Nega Fano commanders, who have laid down arms, are from Gondar, Eskinder himself is based in Shewa.

Fano militias started an armed resistance movement against the Ethiopian security forces in Amhara region in 2023. The militias in the past operated on woreda/district level. Their efforts to create one representative regional structure could not succeed owing to internal divisions. The newly formed AFNF hopes to unite all Fano groups under its banner. It seems that Eskinder Nega Fano will have to make a decision about its future. It has the options of joining AFNF, working in isolation or surrendering to government forces.

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