Ethiopian PM Reveals Ongoing Talks with Amhara Rebels, But Challenges Persist

In Summary
• Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed discloses negotiations with armed militias in Amhara region
• Lack of unity among rebel groups cited as a major obstacle to peace talks
• Fano militia spokesperson denies any ongoing negotiations with the government
• Amhara peace council official unaware of formal peace talks

ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA- In a surprising revelation, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed announced on Friday that his government has been engaged in negotiations with armed militias in the Amhara region, aiming to peacefully resolve the ongoing conflict. This disclosure, made during a meeting with financial leaders in Addis Ababa, sheds new light on efforts to stabilize the troubled region.

Speaking in Amharic, Prime Minister Abiy told the gathering, "I haven't revealed this so far but to let you know today, it has been a while since we started talks with armed groups operating in the Amhara region." However, he highlighted a significant challenge in the peace process: the lack of a unified rebel front. "The problem so far is that there is no centralized group. When we reach an understanding with one group we don't agree with the other," he explained.

The prime minister's statement indicates that the government has been working to create conditions conducive to more comprehensive talks by encouraging the various armed groups to come together. "We have started talks with some of the groups; there are groups that have started continuous talks with the government," Abiy stated. However, he did not specify which armed groups were involved in these discussions or when they began.

This announcement comes against the backdrop of a year-long conflict that erupted following reports of government plans to disarm regional paramilitary forces and integrate them into other security structures, including the federal army. The fighting has primarily involved the Fano militia, an ethnic Amhara group without a formal structure, operating in different parts of the Amhara region.

Interestingly, a spokesperson for one of the Fano armed groups has denied any ongoing negotiations with the government. Simeneh Mulatu, head of the foreign and diaspora affairs department for the Fano militias in Gojjam, told VOA that they have not engaged in any talks or negotiations with the government. This contradiction raises questions about the scope and nature of the negotiations mentioned by Prime Minister Abiy.

Adding to the complexity of the situation, an official from the Amhara region's peace council, established in June, appears to be unaware of any formal peace talks. Eyachew Teshale informed VOA that they have no knowledge of ongoing negotiations between the government and the Fano armed group.

The discrepancies between the prime minister's statement and the denials from both rebel and regional officials highlight the intricate and potentially fragmented nature of the peace efforts in the Amhara region. It also underscores the challenges faced by the Ethiopian government in its attempts to resolve the conflict through dialogue.

This development in Amhara comes in the context of broader peace-building efforts in Ethiopia. In November last year, the government held talks with another rebel group, the Oromo Liberation Army, fighting in the Oromiya region. However, those discussions, which took place in Tanzania, failed to narrow the differences between the two sides.

As Ethiopia continues to grapple with multiple regional conflicts, the revelation of these talks in Amhara represents a potentially significant step towards peace. However, the conflicting accounts and the apparent lack of a unified negotiating front among the rebels suggest that the path to resolution remains complex and challenging.

The international community and regional stakeholders will be closely watching how these reported negotiations unfold, and whether they can lead to a sustainable peace in the Amhara region and contribute to broader stability in Ethiopia.