Fano and the conflict in Amhara
Updated 10 Oct 2026
Fano militias have fought the federal government in Amhara since 2023. Frontline records the clashes, strikes and changes of control reported in the region, each with its sources and a confidence grade.
Deaths are the sum of figures given in individual reports; reports can overlap and are not a Frontline count.
Key towns
| Town | Held by | Since | Latest report |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bahir Dar | No verified report | Statement, 2 Oct 2026 | |
| Gondar | No verified report | Battle, 4 Jun 2025 | |
| Lalibela | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 30 Sep 2026 | Statement, week of 5 Oct 2026 |
| Dessie | No verified report | Battle, week of 12 Mar 2025 | |
| Woldia | No verified report | Battle, week of 21 Sep 2026 | |
| Kobo | No verified report | Shelling, 23 Sep 2026 | |
| Debre Markos | No verified report | Battle, week of 6 Oct 2025 | |
| Sekota | Ethiopian National Defense Force | 28 Sep 2026 | Battle, week of 6 Sep 2022 |
Events per day since 20 Sep 2026
Latest events
Control change · Mehal Meda town, North Shewa (AM), Amhara
The Amhara Fano National Movement said coordinated offensives by its Shoa commands took control of ten towns in Shoa and captured 520 government troops.
Statement · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
The U.S. embassy in Addis Ababa warned of possible long-range attacks on Ethiopian military sites and urged citizens to avoid travel to the Amhara, Tigray and Afar regions, including Lalibela, or to leave if already there.
Statement · Bahir Dar town, Bahir Dar town Admin, Amhara
Satellite imagery shows an estimated four to five aircraft, apparently Ethiopian Air Force Su-27 fighters, at Bahir Dar Airport from 2 October that were absent on 27 September, indicating deployment there since fighting escalated in northern Ethiopia.
Battle · Alamata town, Area 3, Contested
Amnesty International reported fighting with heavy weapons in and around Alamata that caused civilian casualties.
Battle · Maichew town, Southern, Tigray
Amnesty International reported fighting with heavy weapons in and around Maychew that caused civilian casualties.
Control change · Mekane Selam town, South Wello, Amhara
Fano forces were reported to have won a major battle at Mekane Selam in South Wollo.
Attack on civilians · Alamata town, Area 3, Contested
Hospital staff told the BBC that at least 52 civilians, including young children, were killed over three days of heavy fighting involving artillery and explosives in and around Alamata, with a single strike on a marketplace killing 12 people.
Battle · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
The US Embassy in Addis Ababa warned of active fighting near Lalibela, where Ethiopian Airlines suspended flights on 24 September, and urged US citizens to avoid Amhara, Tigray and Afar.
Battle · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
A source close to the TPLF said clashes were taking place within kilometres of Lalibela airport.
Battle · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
Flights to Lalibela were suspended because of fighting nearby.
Statement · Unknown place
TPLF vice president Amanuel Assefa said the group was in a full-blown war with the federal government and that Tigrayan forces were fighting alongside local armed groups in Afar and Amhara.
Battle · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
AFP received reports of fighting around Lalibela in North Wollo, which led to the closure of its airport.
Battle · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
AFP received reports of fighting around Lalibela, whose airport closed and flights were suspended.
Battle · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
Reuters reported clashes in Lalibela, North Wollo, and flights to the town were suspended.
Battle · Lasta, North Wello, Amhara
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission verified clashes between government security forces and TPLF-deployed fighters in Wag Hemra Zone border areas and Lasta woreda of North Wollo.
Battle · Unknown place
Conflict monitor ACLED said Tigrayan forces, working with Fano, attacked federal positions in the Amhara region.
Shelling · Lalibela town, North Wello, Amhara
Two residents said federal forces fired heavy weapons from a camp in Lalibela at Fano forces advancing about 50 km away.
Battle · Unknown place
Government and diplomatic sources said Tigrayan forces were fighting alongside Fano in Amhara.
Battle · Unknown place
Security sources said Tigrayan forces and the Amhara Fano National Movement had been fighting federal forces together in Amhara since Wednesday.
Battle · Unknown place
Tigrayan forces and Fano launched a ground assault on federal forces in Amhara near the Southern Tigray boundary, with heavy fighting in North Wollo and reported threats to Weldiya and Lalibela.
Shelling · Kobo town, North Wello, Amhara
A mortar strike in Kobo town, reportedly by the ENDF, killed civilians, according to the UN human rights office.
Battle · Unknown place
Fighting broke out in Amhara and Afar, with Tigrayan forces reported fighting alongside Fano and a local Afar armed group against federal forces.
Battle · Unknown place
Fano forces said they besieged and captured two colonels commanding an army division, and seized trucks and weapons, after a battle in North Wollo.
Battle · Unknown place
A coalition of 36 human rights organisations said large-scale fighting broke out on 22 September 2026 between Ethiopian government forces and allied Tigrayan and Amhara fighters, spreading into the Afar and Amhara regions and involving drone strikes, mortar and artillery fire, and air strikes on populated areas.
Battle · Woldiya town, North Wello, Amhara
A foreign security source reported fighting around the Amhara town of Weldiya.
Questions and answers
Who controls Bahir Dar?
Frontline has no verified report of who holds Bahir Dar as of 10 Oct 2026. On the map it is shown as unknown rather than with an old colour.
Who controls Gondar?
Frontline has no verified report of who holds Gondar as of 10 Oct 2026. On the map it is shown as unknown rather than with an old colour.
Who controls Lalibela?
As of 10 Oct 2026, Frontline's map shows Lalibela as held by Ethiopian National Defense Force since 30 Sep 2026, based on grade B sources.
How many drone and air strikes have been reported?
Since 20 Sep 2026, 0 drone and air strikes have been reported here; 0 of them rest on at least one independent source.
What is the latest?
The most recent report Frontline has recorded, from 8 Oct 2026: The Amhara Fano National Movement said coordinated offensives by its Shoa commands took control of ten towns in Shoa and captured 520 government troops.
How is this information checked?
Every event links to its sources and carries a grade. Only reports confirmed by an independent source (grades A and B) move the map; a party's own claim is shown as a claim and never changes it.