Addis Abeba — Ethiopia has been embroiled in prolonged militarized conflict since , a year after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power, primarily involving government forces, sub-state and non-state actors.
Notable instances include the recent Tigray war and ongoing militarized conflicts in the Oromia and Amhara regions. Despite a peace deal between the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF that ended the two-year war, widespread security issues continue to linger in the Tigray region as the implementation of the agreement, particularly the return of IDPs, and DDR for Tigrayan fighters drags on for several reasons.
In Oromia and Amhara, the two largest regions, militarized conflicts between government forces and armed groups, the Oromo Liberation Army OLA and Fano, respectively, have crippled socio-economic activities, and endangered the safety and security of civilians.
Elsewhere, leaning on arms to settle disputes have increased significantly. For example, in the often idyllic Southern Ethiopia region, an informal armed group brazenly assumed control and imposed their own governance over a small kebele adjacent to Arbaminch, called Kola Shara, maintaining their hold for an astonishing six-month span.
In August , a tumultuous clash erupted between regional government forces and the informal armed group, resulting in the tragic loss of 17 lives and inflicting numerous injuries. The confrontations stemmed from opposition towards an initiative to integrate the surrounding areas including Kola Shara into the jurisdiction of Arba Minch city.
