Amhara Fano forces claim more territories as their ancestorial lands in line with the current ethnic federal arrangement.
Speaking to a US-based media outlet, Geta Asrade, the chief political indoctrinator of the Amhara Fano rebels, suggested that if ethnic federalism were fully implemented in Ethiopia, large parts of the country, including Axum and Tembien, Metekel (BG region), Shoa, Arusi, and Harar (Oromo region), would be under Amhara control.
However, Asrade emphasized that to prevent further bloodshed, no ethnic group should claim land. Instead, individuals as Ethiopian citizens should be entitled to private property, including land ownership. This topic was discussed when he was questioned about a potential military alliance with the TPLF, a paramilitary group from neighboring Tigray, which had previously fought a brutal civil war against Abiy Ahmed's Oromo-dominated regime.
Ethiopia adopted ethnic federalism in 1993 after Tigray and Eritrean rebels overthrew the central regime in Addis Ababa. This led to the annexation of areas previously inhabited by ethnic Amharas into newly created Tigray and Oromo regions.
Asrade blamed the TPLF for laying the groundwork for what he termed as the "Amhara genocide," claiming that millions of Amharas within these new ethnic regions became stateless and victims of severe cultural and physical genocide. Any alliance with the TPLF, despite a shared opposition to Abiy, would be considered treasonous by Amharas.
Amhara Fano rebels, who had fought TPLF forces alongside Abiy during the two-year Tigray war, faced a shift in allegiances when Abiy signed a peace deal with the TPLF in November 2022. Despite this, the rebels continue to hold control over 80% of the Amhara region.
Geta Asrade was questioned about the rebels' military achievements over the past two years. He stated that the death ratio in the war stands at 10 to 1 in their favor, and the regime has made no progress despite utilizing all available resources. The rebels continue to control 80% of the Amhara region.
Analysts acknowledge that while the rebels may exaggerate their military success, they have withstood Abiy Ahmad's assault for over two years with inferior arsenal and logistics. They suggest that a military victory for Abiy Ahmad is highly unlikely.
Some even speculate that Abiy could face a fate similar to Bashir Al-Assad of Syria, as the rebels wait for the right moment to strike.
Geta Asrade, a former political prisoner under the TPLF regime, was released by Abiy in 2018. When the TPLF returned to Amhara in 2021 during the Tigray war, he and fellow Amhara political leaders formed the Fano militia to combat the invading TPLF forces.
The Fano militia grew into a significant force after several senior Ethiopian army officers defected to it.
In a three-week battle during the summer of 2023, the Fanos seized control of the entire Amhara region, prompting the Ethiopian parliament to declare martial law across Ethiopia. Although the rebels were pushed back from some urban areas, they have maintained their bases and continue to resist the Abiy regime.