September 9, 2024
borkena
Toronto – The two days of intense fighting between Fano and government forces in North Wollo has reportedly inflicted heavy losses on the latter.
Over 150 government forces were captured during the battle in Kalim ( near Woldia) in North Wollo area of the Amhara region. Hundreds are killed and several others wounded, according to local Ethiopian news outlets.
Anchor Media, which is based in the United States, spoke to Fano Moges who is said to be head of the political division of Wollo Fano and he has confirmed the story.
According to him, it was the Asamenew Tsege brigade of Wollo Fano that has been fighting against government forces in the above-mentioned area for the past two days.
Senior military commanders of the 48th regiment of government forces are reportedly killed in the battle.
A new video footage purportedly showing the captured government forces is circulating on social media. In the video, a soldier is shown speaking about the battle experience that led to their capture in Kalim.
“…that the government is underestimating the Fano forces is not right. We fought hard for two days but it was beyond our power. Fano forces are fighters. We were armed with snipers, Bren machine guns, and mortar. They seized it all,” he said. Hundreds were seen in government defense force uniform in the video being guarded by fano forces as one of the captured soldiers was recounting the battle experience in the video.
The operation was a joint one – between Fano forces under Mere Wodajo and Fano forces under Fantahun Mohabawu.
According to sources, Wollo, Shoa and Gondar areas of the Amhara region have also witnessed battles between the government and Fano forces.
In North West Gondar, government forces suffered a blowing loss in Metema Yohannes town – along the Ethiopia-Sudan border – last week. Sudanese news sources reported border closure after hundreds of government forces crossed the border following battle loss.
Anchor Media on Monday reported that over 5000 government forces have reportedly been killed in the past few weeks in different parts of the Amhara region of Ethiopia, and thousands have been captured.
The Ethiopian defense force has been claiming gains in the region in the past few weeks but multiple reports from other sources do not seem to suggest so.
The latest government mobilization and massive deployment of forces was intended to decisively win against Fano forces by mid September. It does not seem to be happening. Meanwhile, Egypt is attempting to exploit Somalia to take advantage of Ethiopia’s internal situation and also the dispute with Somalia.
Opposition forces accused the government of failure to resolve the problem in Amhara region through dialogue and the government is giving the pretext that it found it difficult to negotiate with multiple actors in the region.
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