Overview of the Crisis in Ethiopia (Early 2026)
As of early 2026, Ethiopia is engulfed in multiple, overlapping security, political, and humanitarian crises. Intensified fighting, mass killings, widespread displacement, and severe human rights violations continue across several regions, particularly in Amhara, Oromia, and Tigray. These conflicts, compounded by economic collapse and political repression, have plunged millions of civilians into acute suffering.
The conflict in the Amhara region, now in its third year, shows no sign of resolution. Heavy military operations, including drone strikes, artillery shelling, mass arrests, and communication blackouts, have become routine. Civilian casualties are mounting, entire communities are being displaced, and basic services have collapsed.
Across the country, Ethiopia is witnessing a disturbing pattern of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, attacks on religious institutions, suppression of free expression, and deliberate targeting of civilians. These developments demand urgent international attention.
Communication Blackouts and Government Military Campaigns
In the Amhara region, the Ethiopian government has imposed extended communication blackouts, cutting off internet, telephone, and media access. These restrictions severely limit independent reporting, humanitarian coordination, and emergency response, while concealing the true scale of civilian suffering.
Meanwhile, drone strikes and heavy military assaults have intensified, often striking civilian neighborhoods, marketplaces, and religious gatherings. These tactics have resulted in large-scale casualties and deepened public fear and mistrust.
Regional Crisis Breakdown
Amhara Region: The Fano Insurgency and Widespread Civilian Harm
Prolonged Conflict
The armed confrontation between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and Fano militia groups has persisted throughout 2024, 2025, and into 2026. By early 2026, Fano forces had consolidated and expanded their operations, leading to escalated clashes, particularly in North and South Shoa, Gojjam, Wollo, and Gondar zones.
Killings and Atrocities
In February 2026, federal drone strikes reportedly killed civilians in North Shoa, including a pregnant woman and a six-year-old child. Earlier, in January 2025, ENDF troops were accused of executing dozens of civilians in Merawi town, an incident that sparked international outrage..
Unrest in Shoa
The North Shoa zone, including Shewa Robit, Debre Berhan, and surrounding districts, has become one of the most volatile areas, witnessing continuous skirmishes, travel restrictions, curfews, and widespread fear among civilians.
Oromia Region: Ongoing War with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA)
Escalating Conflict
Fighting between government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) continues to devastate Oromia, resulting in mass displacement, targeted killings, and destruction of civilian infrastructure.
Targeted Attacks and Civilian Killings
Both sides have been accused of grave violations. The OLA has been implicated in attacks on civilians, while federal forces are accused of extrajudicial executions, drone strikes, village raids, and mass arrests of individuals suspected of rebel sympathies.
Humanitarian Toll
Throughout 2025 alone, violence in Oromia displaced over 280,000 civilians, forcing families into overcrowded camps with limited food, shelter, and medical care.
Tigray Region and Northern Border Areas
Renewed Armed Clashes
In January 2026, the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) launched new operations to reclaim disputed territories, particularly Tselemti and border areas adjoining Amhara, resulting in renewed clashes with federal forces.
Eritrean Military Involvement
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently acknowledged the role of Eritrean troops, who previously fought alongside Ethiopian forces during the 2020–2022 war. Eritrean forces have been widely accused of mass killings, systematic looting, sexual violence, and destruction of civilian infrastructure, contributing significantly to regional instability.
Humanitarian and Economic Collapse
Mass Displacement
By mid-2025, the United Nations estimated that more than 3.3 million Ethiopians were internally displaced, with the highest concentrations in Amhara, Tigray, and Oromia. Hundreds of thousands remain in dire conditions without adequate shelter, food, or healthcare.
Economic Crisis and Hunger
Ethiopia is experiencing runaway inflation, fuel shortages, food scarcity, and currency collapse. In 2025 alone, over two million people missed out on food aid, pushing millions closer to famine conditions.
Human Rights and Press Freedom
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission and international organizations continue to document extrajudicial killings, mass arrests, media censorship, internet shutdowns, and intimidation of journalists. Independent reporting has been systematically suppressed.
Call to Action: An Urgent Appeal to Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia
Dear Ethiopians and Friends of Ethiopia,
We must work tirelessly to expose the cruelty, violence, and atrocities being committed by the regime in Addis Ababa to the international community — especially to the United States Congress.
Those of us living in the United States have both the opportunity and moral responsibility to raise our voices by writing to, calling, and meeting with our elected representatives. Silence enables oppression. Advocacy saves lives.
Please follow and distribute the 50-State Strategy: Call to Action letter we have prepared and send it to your Members of Congress, Senators, and local officials. It is especially urgent that we act now, in response to the horrific crimes recently committed in the Shoa region of Ethiopia.
Let us stand united for the voiceless Ethiopians who cannot defend themselves. Our unity, persistence, and advocacy can and will make a difference.
The time to act is now.
Urgent Appeal: Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Prisoners of Conscience
To: Michael Ardovino, Policy Analyst
U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF)
From: Ethiopian Americans Community
Date: February 8, 2026
Re: Persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and Prisoners of Conscience
Dear Mr. Ardovino,
On behalf of the Ethiopian American community, we respectfully request your urgent attention to the rapidly deteriorating human rights situation in Ethiopia, particularly the systematic persecution of Ethiopian Orthodox Christians and the escalating repression of civil liberties.
Religious Persecution
According to official documentation from the East Arsi Diocese of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, 271 Orthodox Christians were killed in 2024, followed by more than 50 additional killings in 2025. These atrocities occurred across multiple districts, including Shirka, Deju, and Gure Debino, where churches were burned, worshippers massacred, and over 499 households forcibly displaced.
In February 2023, violent clashes in Shashamane, Oromia, during tensions surrounding an illegal synod, resulted in civilian deaths, with eyewitnesses alleging police involvement.
During the Tigray war, the Axum Massacre of November 2020 claimed the lives of hundreds of worshippers during a sacred feast day, marking one of the most horrifying attacks on religious civilians in modern Ethiopian history.
Most recently, the Easter Massacre of May 15–17, 2025, in East Gojjam, Amhara Region, resulted in the deaths of approximately 150 civilians due to drone strikes and artillery shelling. Independent witnesses and international media confirmed that the victims were peaceful civilians, underscoring the urgent need for an independent international investigation.
Political Prisoners and Prisoners of Conscience
In addition to religious persecution, Ethiopia continues to imprison journalists, bloggers, authors, human rights defenders, and political leaders, including:
- Christian Tadele, former Member of Parliament
- Tadios Tantu, author
- Dr. Wondwosen Assefa, human rights activist
- Meskerem Abera, author and educator
- Gobeze Sisay, Dawit Begashaw, Abay Zewdu, Michael Melake, Genet Asmamaw, and many others
These detentions represent a grave assault on freedom of expression and democratic governance.
Our Urgent Requests
We respectfully urge the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom to:
- Launch an independent investigation into attacks against Ethiopian Orthodox Christians
- Advocate for the immediate and unconditional release of all prisoners of conscience
- Call for an immediate cessation of hostilities
- Support accountability mechanisms for all human rights violations
Conclusion
Ethiopia stands at a historic crossroads. Without decisive international engagement, the country risks deeper violence, fragmentation, and long-term instability.
Your leadership and engagement can help prevent further atrocities and promote peace, religious freedom, accountability, and justice.
Thank you for your attention and steadfast commitment to defending human dignity worldwide.
Sincerely,
Mesfin Mekonen
Mesfin Mekonen
Mesfin Mekonen is the author of Washington Update, a bulletin about Ethiopia’s struggle for freedom and prosperity, and founder of MM Management.
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