Amhara region/ Fano Militias

Drone Strike in Ethiopia & Major Militia Groups in Africa

Why in the News?
A devastating drone strike in Gedeb, Amhara region of Ethiopia, during the Easter holiday, killed 50–100+ civilians. The attack targeted people gathered to repair a local primary school, making it one of the deadliest drone attacks in Ethiopia’s ongoing conflict.

Key Highlights of the Incident

• Target: Civilians engaged in school repair work on Easter morning.
• Casualties: Estimated 50–100+ deaths; many severely injured and bodies dismembered.
• Conflict Background:
  • Ethiopian army vs Fano militias (linked to the Amhara ethnic group).
  • Drone warfare first used in the Tigray War (2020–22), now expanded to Amhara & Oromia.
• Drone Strike Data: In 2024, Ethiopia conducted 54 drone strikes (ACLED).

Context: Drone Warfare in Ethiopia

• Shift in conflict dynamics: From conventional battles to remote drone strikes.
• Civilian impact: High toll on non-combatants, raising concerns of humanitarian crisis.
• Regional spread: From Tigray → Amhara → Oromia.

Major Militia Groups in Africa

1. West Africa

• Boko Haram (Nigeria, Chad, Niger, Cameroon)
  • Goal: Establish Islamic state.
  • Tactics: Abductions, bombings, mass killings.
• Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP)
  • Splinter of Boko Haram; aligned with ISIS.
  • Strong in northeast Nigeria & Lake Chad.
• Dozo Militia (Mali, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire)
  • Traditional hunters, often engaged in ethnic violence.
  • Sometimes supported by states against jihadists.

2. East Africa

• Al-Shabaab (Somalia, Kenya)
  • Al-Qaeda affiliate; imposes Sharia.
  • Notorious for Westgate Mall siege (Kenya).
• Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) (Ethiopia)
  • Seeks autonomy for Oromo people.
  • Declared terrorist by Ethiopian govt.
• Fano Militia (Ethiopia – Amhara)
  • Ethnic Amhara self-defense force.
  • Currently in conflict with the Ethiopian army.

3. Central Africa

• Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA), active in Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic.
  • Led by Joseph Kony; infamous for child soldiers & brutal tactics.
• Anti-Balaka & Séléka (Central African Republic)
  • Rival militias:
    • Séléka – mostly Muslim rebels.
    • Anti-Balaka – predominantly Christian vigilantes.
• M23 Rebels (DRC)
  • Tutsi-led group, allegedly backed by Rwanda.
  • Causes recurring instability in eastern DRC.

4. North Africa

• Libyan National Army (LNA) Militias (Libya)
  • Led by General Khalifa Haftar; controls eastern Libya.
  • Supported by UAE & Egypt.
• Tuareg Militias (Mali, Niger, Algeria, Libya)
  • Ethnic groups demanding autonomy.
  • Sometimes allied with Islamist/separatist groups.

5. Southern Africa

• Renamo Militia (Mozambique)
  • The military branch of the opposition party engaged in a civil war against FRELIMO.
  • Recent sporadic insurgencies.
• Ahlu Sunnah wal Jamaah (ASWJ) / ISIS-Mozambique
  • Islamist insurgents in Cabo Delgado.
  • Responsible for mass displacement, beheadings, large-scale attacks.

Significance & Implications

• For Ethiopia: Escalation of drone warfare risks civilian lives, deepens ethnic conflict.
• For Africa: Rise of local militias and extremist groups contributes to instability across multiple regions.
• Global Security: Increasing foreign involvement (UAE, Egypt, ISIS links) complicates peace efforts.