Ethiopia's Amhara Region Under Siege: Drone Strikes Claim Civilian Lives

Deadly Drone Strikes in Ethiopia's Amhara Region

“I don't see any evidence that the drone strikes are having any effect at all on the ongoing clashes...”

The conflict in Ethiopia's Amhara region has taken a deadly turn, with drone strikes claiming the lives of civilians. Discover the latest developments and the humanitarian response.

In a heart-wrenching account, a grieving mother from a remote village in Ethiopia's troubled Amhara region shared with DW the devastating loss of her 20-year-old son, who tragically died just a month ago. Speaking to DW in a phone interview from her home in West Gojam, she poignantly recalled, “I am hurt, he went to the market and never came back.”

The mother's voice was laced with pain as she revealed the circumstances surrounding her son's death, saying, “He died after they were struck from the air.” As she struggled to continue, she handed the phone over to her husband. To protect their identities and prevent potential reprisal, DW has chosen not to disclose their names.

The couple's son had been a grade nine student, but his education was abruptly interrupted when conflict erupted between the Ethiopian federal government and Amhara Fano militants in April 2023. Since then, the region has witnessed a dramatic increase in civilian casualties resulting from drone strikes, leaving countless families like this one to pick up the pieces and mourn the loss of their loved ones.

The devastating drone strike hit a market in the small town of Zibst, in northern Ethiopia, on the morning of Tuesday, November 5, 2024. The attack resulted in 43 casualties, including a 20-year-old student who had been selling second-hand clothes. His father received a heartbreaking phone call after a local resident identified his son's body using his identification card.

The father recalled the traumatic experience, saying, “I took a car and rushed to the town. I brought him back and buried him in his birthplace.” The family's loss is a stark reminder of the human cost of the conflict in Ethiopia. The death toll from the drone strikes, which targeted a marketplace, an elementary school, and a health center, may have risen to 51, according to residents.

The incident has been recorded as one of the deadliest by the US-based Armed Conflict Location and Event Data Project (ACLED). The drone strikes have sparked widespread concern and outrage, highlighting the need for greater accountability and protection of civilians in conflict zones.

Braden Fuller, a senior researcher at the Ethiopian Peace Observatory, highlighted the uniqueness of the latest strike, saying, “The strikes are occurring in the context of clashes either nearby or in the same location, but I believe this latest strike is somewhat unique because there were no conflicts happening at the time of the strike.” This sentiment was echoed by residents who spoke to DW, emphasizing the unexpected nature of the attack.

The devastating impact of these airstrikes is evident in the numbers. According to ACLED's latest figures, there have been 54 airstrikes, with 52 carried out by armed drones operated by the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF). These strikes have resulted in an estimated 449 fatalities, although this figure is likely a low estimate due to the challenges of reporting drone strikes in remote areas.

The Amhara Association in North America (AAA) reported even higher numbers, stating that at least 125 drones and airstrikes by government forces in the Amhara region resulted in 754 deaths and 223 injuries. These statistics underscore the severity of the situation and the need for greater accountability and protection of civilians.

Hone Mandefro, Advocacy Director of the Amhara Association of America (AAA), has condemned the recent drone strikes in Ethiopia's Amhara region, stating that they have only targeted civilians. “They are massacring innocent people who have no connection to the war, and this is not a mistake,” Mandefro emphasized in an interview with DW. He believes that the government's actions are a deliberate attempt to terrorize the community and prevent support for the Fano militants, as they have repeatedly faced defeat in combat.

However, the Ethiopian government has denied these allegations, insisting that they do not target civilians. Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the army chief, stated in an interview with the national broadcaster, “Drones are made for warfare, we bought them to fight with it... When we find a group of extremists, we strike with drones. But civilians will not be targeted.” The government has also confirmed the use of drones in their fight against Fano militants in the Amhara region, with commanders of the Eastern Command's 302nd Corps of ENDF stating that drones were used to target militants in the North Gojam zone in October 2024.

The use of drones in Ethiopia's conflict has raised concerns about civilian casualties and human rights violations. The Ethiopian government's denial of targeting civilians contradicts reports from human rights organizations and eyewitnesses, highlighting the need for independent investigations and accountability.

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) is currently engaged in a fierce battle in the Amhara region against the Fano militia. Rights groups have documented the army's use of drones, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties. According to a report by the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission (EHRC), “large numbers of civilians have been brutally killed by heavy artillery shelling and aerial bombardments mostly by drones” in the Amhara region between August 2023 and June 2024.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has also documented the devastating impact of drone strikes in the region. Between August and December 2023, 18 UAV strikes resulted in 248 civilian deaths and 55 injuries. These strikes also targeted essential facilities, including schools, hospitals, and private homes, raising serious concerns about their compliance with international law.

The Ethiopian Air Force has established a drone unit, which includes the Turkish-built Bayraktar TB2 and other UAVs acquired in recent years. The use of drones has become a key component of the Ethiopian military's strategy against the Fano militia and other insurgent groups. However, human rights experts have raised concerns about the indiscriminate use of drones, which has resulted in significant civilian casualties and damage to infrastructure.

The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) has acquired additional drones, including some from China, but the Bayraktar TB2 remains its most effective option, according to security observers. The Ethiopian army has even awarded Haluk Bayraktar, the CEO of the private manufacturing company, for his significant contribution to the capacity building of the Air Force. The Bayraktar TB2 has significantly impacted the conflict in the Tigray region, which ended with a peace treaty between the TPLF and the Ethiopian government on November 3, 2022.

However, experts have raised concerns about the effectiveness of drone strikes in addressing the ongoing clashes involving the Fano militants in the Amhara region and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) in Oromia regions. According to ACLED's researcher Braden Fuller, “I don't see any evidence that the drone strikes are having any effect at all on the ongoing clashes... Even though these strikes might target high-profile leadership of the militias, the strikes are consistently hitting civilian targets.” Fuller believes that the drone strikes won't be effective, but expects the government to continue using them.

The use of drones in Ethiopia has raised concerns about civilian casualties and human rights violations. Human rights experts have accused the Ethiopian government of using drones indiscriminately and in remote places where there is little oversight. The Ethiopian government has denied targeting civilians, but experts say that the use of drones is part of a broader pattern of impunity that characterizes conflicts in the country.