Prime minister Abiy Ahmed's troops have been driven out of Debre Markos, Amanuel and DebreTabor towns a week after the government declared victory on Fano fighters.
The war for the future of Ethiopia has intensified over the week. The major story is the retreat of Prime minister Abiy Ahmed's troops from key towns in east Gojjam, Debre Markos and Amanuel. Debre Tabor another major city in south Gondar also fell back to the rebels.
Government army captured Debre Markos, the second largest city in Gojjam next to the regional capital Bahir Dar last week but their control did not last as Fano fighters recaptured the city on August 26 after heavy fighting.
Gojjam has a strong base for the Fano army who claim are battling prime minister Abiy Ahmed's government to end the Ethiopian carnage they say has been caused by the leader since he came to power in 2018.
Under Abiy Ahmed, Ethiopia is going through the worst political and security crisis in its entire history as over a million Ethiopians were massacred in just five years due to civil wars and government instigated mass killings.
The following is a weekly update on the war between Fano fighters and Prime minister Abiy Ahmed's troops.
* In April 2023, the war started after Abiy Ahmed's troops unsuccessfully executed an operation in Debre Elias Gojjam that tried to capture Eskinder Nega leader of the political wing of Fano and other military leaders. No one was captured but the Debre Elias monastery was destroyed by Abiy Ahmed's troops.
* August 2023, after four months of war of attrition in rural Amhara, Fano fighters managed to drive out Prime minister Abiy Ahmed's troops from 80% of the Amhara region controlling all major cities and towns, airports and military stations. The regional administration was dissolved and Abiy Ahmed forced to declare martial law and a military administration dividing the region into four posts.
* Government deployed its entire military apparatus to the region and regained control of Lalibela, Gondar, Bahir Dar and all airports. Fano withdrew without much casualty in its ranks.
* Aug 26, Fano fighters recaptured Debre Tabor, capital of South Gondar. Heavy fighting continued in all fronts as Fanos degrade the government military's capabilities in a war of attrition.
* Aug 25, Fano fighters recaptured Debre Markos and Amanuel after heavy fighting.
* Aug 24, Abiy appoints new governor for the region, relative of the intelligence chief
* Aug 23, Abiy Ahmed's defense secretary who was a former TPLF member and of ethnic Tigrey dropped a bombshell saying that his movement will remove the current administration in the disputed Welkaiyte Tsegede, Tselemit and Raya districts. The current Amhara administrators responded harshly saying there will be a war front there if the defense secretary's words are not retracted.
* Aug 22, Heavy fighting in North Wollo near the historic town of Lalibela as Fanos surprised the government's army with a major offensive. The rebels have not reentered the town but caused much causality for government troops who were caught in a surprise attack.
* Aug 21, heavy fighting in Bichena Gojjam, Abiy Ahmed's army reportedly using drones and other modern weapons against the rebels.
* Aug 20, heavy fighting in Shoa as Fano fighters caught government troops in surprise in Majete, KaraKore and nearby areas.
Overall, it was another bad week for Abiy Ahmed's military as it failed to clean up Fano fighters from the majority of Amhara region as it promised. Fano's war of attrition continues to gain momentum degrading the capabilities of the government army, capturing more weapons, recruiting more fighters, gaining more experience in the war. The government media has not shown any prisoner of war captured from the Fano side, but the Fanos have shown parades of government POWs.