The antiwar community caught in the crossfire of Ethiopia’s Amhara conflict

Awra Amba: Ethiopia’s Peaceful Oasis Under Threat

Awra Amba, a small, remote village in Ethiopia’s central Amhara region, has long been a beacon of peace and equality. Founded in the 1970s as a utopian experiment, this tight-knit community of about 600 people has thrived on egalitarian principles, sharing work equally between genders and fostering a culture of harmony. For decades, while conflict and insecurity plagued much of Ethiopia, Awra Amba remained a haven, untouched by the chaos. Its innovative approach to conflict resolution and commitment to peace earned it international recognition, with visitors from around the world drawn to its inspiring story.

Yet, the past two years have brought devastating change. A deadly conflict erupted in Amhara, pitting the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) against the Fano militia, a group demanding territorial control. The violence has disrupted life in Awra Amba, threatening its very existence. Once a thriving, self-sufficient community, Awra Amba now struggles to survive as tourism dries up, trade falters, and fear grips its people. The conflict has not only upended its economy but also shattered the sense of safety that once defined this peaceful oasis.

A Shattered Economy: The End of Self-Sufficiency

The once-thriving economy of Awra Amba has been turned upside down. For years, the community relied on a cooperative system where income and resources were pooled together to fund projects like a care home for the elderly, support for orphans, and welfare programs for those in need. Tourism played a significant role in this economy, with thousands of visitors annually drawn to the village’s unique way of life. They stayed in an on-site lodge and purchased handwoven garments and textiles, generating vital income.

But the conflict has brought this to a halt. With gunshots echoing in the distance and kidnappings on the rise, tourism has evaporated. Foreign visitors, once a source of pride and income, have disappeared. Even traveling to markets to sell agricultural produce like maize and teff has become dangerous, as highway robberies and lawlessness proliferate. “We can’t transport the produce,” lamented Ayalsew Zumra, a community member. “That’s how we make most of our income.” The shutdown of trade has left the community struggling to sustain itself, its self-sufficiency shattered by the encroaching conflict.

Caught in the Crossfire: The Impact on Daily Life

The conflict’s reach extends far beyond the economy, infiltrating every aspect of life in Awra Amba. The community’s school, which it helped build in 2019, was forced to close after Fano fighters demanded an end to teaching. The shutdown has not only disrupted education but also deepened tensions, as the community is perceived to be linked to the government. “The government wanted the school to continue, but the other forces didn’t,” said Zumra. “The conflict affects everyone.”

Even the founder of Awra Amba, Zumra Nuru, and his son have fled to the capital, Addis Ababa, after being targeted by armed men. The kidnapping of a villager for a ransom of 1 million Ethiopian birr has further instilled fear. The once peaceful hills where villagers watched the sunset are now off-limits, and the sound of gunshots has replaced the laughter of children. The internet blackout imposed by the government to hinder rebel communications has also disrupted daily life, leaving students like Alamu Nuruhak unable to pursue their studies. “It’s difficult here to get anything done,” he said.

A Region in Crisis: The Bigger Picture

The conflict in Amhara is part of a larger, more complex crisis. The roots of the conflict trace back to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s efforts to consolidate power and dissolve regional forces into federal military or police structures. Fano, an armed group with a history dating back to the 1930s, has emerged as a formidable force, demanding territorial control and greater political representation for the Amhara people. The exclusion of Fano and other Amhara groups from the Pretoria peace deal in 2022, which ended the Tigray conflict, has fueled their grievances.

The violence has spiraled into a human rights catastrophe. Reports of mass gender-based violence, extrajudicial executions, and torture by both the ENDF and Fano have prompted international condemnation. The UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights has documented atrocities, including unlawful arrests and attacks on civilians. Meanwhile, some four million children in Amhara are out of school due to the conflict. Bantayehu Shiferaw Chanie, a researcher from Amhara, warns that without political dialogue, the conflict will persist, threatening regional stability and risking state collapse.

Hope for Peace: A Community’s Resilience

Despite the devastation, the people of Awra Amba hold on to hope. “We just want peace,” said Zumra Nuru, now in exile in Addis Ababa. “We believe that all conflicts can be resolved with reasonable discussion and debate.” This is not the first time Awra Amba has faced adversity. During the Derg regime in 1988, the community was forced to flee after being accused of supporting the opposition. They returned only in 1993, after the regime’s collapse, and rebuilt their lives.

Nuru’s words reflect the resilience and unity that have defined Awra Amba for decades. The community’s survival has always depended on its ability to come together in the face of adversity. Even now, as the conflict rages on, its people remain committed to their principles of equality, cooperation, and peace. “We have survived struggles in the past,” said Nuru. “By working together, by seeing what joins us, not what divides us, we can put an end to this suffering and bring peace to Ethiopia.”

For Awra Amba, peace is not just a distant dream but a way of life. As the conflict continues to ravage their region, its people cling to the hope that one day, their oasis of peace will flourish once more.