Tefera Mamo, former chief of the Amhara Special Force, has reportedly joined Fano militias. He worked in top positions in the Amhara region.
On Sunday, the General went missing. Menon Haile, the General’s wife, announced that Tefera Mamo went out for a walk but he did not return. Later several sources close to Fano militias said that the General had joined Fano militias.
Since last year, fighting has been ongoing between Fano militias and the Ethiopian security forces in the Amhara region. Fano militias fought alongside the Ethiopian national defense force and Amhara regional forces against Tigray forces in the 2-year long war in northern Ethiopia. After the war ended in November 2022, the Ethiopian government decided to disband and disarm Amhara special force and Fano militias. The decision backfired and thousands of Amhara special force soldiers joined Fano militias. Since then clashes between Fano and Ethiopian military have been ongoing in the region.
General Tefera Mamo led Amhara special forces during Tigray war. He was specifically appointed as chief of Amhara special forces to stop Tigray fighters from advancing in Amhara region in 2021. After Pretoria Deal of 2022, the General was sidelined and appointed as advisor to the Amhara regional president but he refused to take charge.
Tefera Mamu has been a staunch of Amhara Prosperity Party and the Ethiopian federal government. In some interviews, he accused both of them of working against Amhara interests. In 2023, he was arrested but later released.
Since Sunday, the General has not been seen. So far he has not appeared in any interview. He tried to go to Israel last year for medical treatment as he has been suffering from Diabetes and other health issues. But he was stopped at Bole international airport and was denied travel abroad.
On Tuesday, General Tefera Mamo’s wife, Menen Haile, was arrested from her home in Addis Ababa by plain clothed security officials. She is likely to be investigated about the disappearance of her husband.
General Tefera Mamo’s decision of joining Fano could give new life to these Fano militias which have managed to survive despite a year-long military operation in the Amhara region.
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