March 8, 2026
Borkena
Toronto – The Ethiopian Defense Force on Sunday said a fano division operating in North Shoa has surrendered to the Ethiopian Defense Force.
It cited Major Wogayehu Bekele, commander of Gasha Division under 6th Command of the Defense Force, to report that Fekadu Belay Division of Menelik Command ( and defense force referred it to as “extrimist”).
The group that is said to have surrendered was operating in Dera District, Amoma Gendu locality, of North Show in Oromia region. There have been reports recently that Fano forces have started operating in parts of the Oromia region.
Head of operation of Fekadu Balay Division and military trainer of the division are among those who allegedly surrendered.
News update the defense force shared on its social media page unspecified as to how many combatants surrendered.
Fano forces have not remarked about it at the time of this writing. The defense force claim is not independently verified.
On Saturday, the rebel forces reported that the government forces launched an artillery attack targeting Taeke Negest Atronse Mariam Church, a historical Ethiopian Orthodox church, in Amhara Saynt, Amhara region. Media outlets with links to the church have reported about it.
Five civilians, monks and deacons, were killed and 21 others were injured in the attack. The government did not deny or confirm it at the time of this writing.
The fighting between government forces and Fano rebels started in August 2023 when the Federal government declared a state of emergency – which was extended to twice – with a stated objective of “disarming” Fano forces.
As it turned out, the government failed to achieve its goal and the Fano forces emerged stronger although there were multiple groups at the time. A few months ago, the various groups operating in different parts of the Amhara region formed a single organization (Amhara Fano National Movement ) under a single command structure.
The government has been making repeated claims that Fano forces are weakened and do not have a military posture to stand their ground and launch offensive or defensive operations. However, the rebels continue to make headlines among Ethiopian news outlets that they continue to launch an offensive against government forces. Recently, new video footage purportedly showing hundreds of captured government soldiers has been circulating on social media.
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