The Ethiopian government announced on Thursday its intention to integrate all regional special forces into the national army. This is likely to be perceived as an endeavor to restrict the autonomy of the country’s various regions.
Each of Ethiopia’s ten regions is partially autonomous, with the ability to establish its own regional army and communicate its own language.
The government has issued a statement stating, “The government has established a path to develop one potent and centralized army. It has begun practical procedures that will permit the incorporation of special forces from every area into numerous security formations.”
Amhara region is the second largest in Ethiopia, hours before declaration, local media reported skirmishes between national and regional troops. It was due to Amhara Special Forces’ units’ reluctance to surrender firearms as part of the integration process.
In its statement, the administration acknowledged that tensions had arisen in Amhara. However, he placed the responsibility on misinterpretation of the strategy and extremist elements within the regional force.
In 2020, when violence broke out in northern Tigray, Amhara soldiers sided with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s federal forces against the separatist insurgents.
This is not the first time this region has experienced unrest. Abiy critic and former Amhara region army commander was arrested in May 2022, according to local media.
In 2019, a separate dissident general orchestrated a coup that resulted in the murders of the regional president and the army chief.
Abiy was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize after ascending to power in Ethiopia in 2018 as a reformer. He has been accused of suppressing his critics.
He asserts that he is assuring the tranquility and security of the country’s diverse cultures.
