Fano Four-Dimensional Struggle: Quest for Unity Part II Prof Muse Tegegne

Ethiopianism

Fano was an Ethiopian Historical Resistance Movement that stood against foreign invasion and internal oppression. The contemporary Fano's resistance intensified in the rural highlands, by expanding to urban areas in four historical regions of Amhara.  Fano has grown into a more effective guerrilla force. It controls over 80% of the Amhara region, with the government holding only the main towns and most highways. watch part i https://youtu.be/jnEe3DXa3IQ

Transcript

00:00The Amhara people of Ethiopia carry a legacy of resistance.

00:16This legacy is embodied in the Fano, a term that echoes through the ages.

00:20Fano represents the spirit of the Amhara people,

00:23their unwavering will to defend their land and their identity.

00:26Throughout history, Fano has been a bulwark against oppression.

00:31They rose against invaders who sought to subjugate Ethiopia.

00:34One of the most defining chapters in Fano's history

00:37was their valiant resistance against the Italian invasion in the 1930s.

00:42Armed with traditional weapons and fueled by an unyielding love for their homeland,

00:47they fought tirelessly against a technologically superior enemy.

00:51Ethiopia, grappling with internal strife and political turmoil,

00:54is witnessing a resurgence of this ancient spirit.

00:57The Fano's struggle is a stark reminder that the embers of resistance,

01:01once ignited, can burn for generations.

01:06The Amhara region of Ethiopia, once a place of relative peace,

01:11now finds itself engulfed in the flames of conflict.

01:14The Fano, once a symbol of historical resistance,

01:17have re-emerged as a potent force challenging the Ethiopian government.

01:21Their resurgence is not merely a localized uprising,

01:24it is a full-fledged rebellion that has gripped four major regions,

01:28Showa, Gondar, Gojam, and Wolo.

01:31The Amhara people, feeling marginalized and insecure within the Ethiopian federation,

01:35have taken up arms to demand greater autonomy and protection.

01:39They accuse the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed

01:42of neglecting their security concerns,

01:45of failing to address the chronic ethnic violence that has plagued the region.

01:48A state of emergency has been declared,

01:50internet access restricted,

01:52and reports of human rights abuses by government forces are rampant.

01:56Despite the government's attempts to quell the uprising,

01:59the Fano have grown bolder and more organized.

02:02They have established control over vast swaths of the Amhara region,

02:06challenging the government's authority,

02:07and raising fears of a protracted and bloody civil war.

02:11The Fano's resurgence is a stark reminder of the fragility of peace

02:14and the explosive potential of unresolved grievances.

02:21Showa, a region of historical significance and the heartland of the Amhara people,

02:26now finds itself on the front line of the Fano resistance.

02:30Led by the charismatic and controversial Desilane Siaseb,

02:34the Fano and Showa are strategically positioned.

02:36Their proximity to Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia,

02:40and their control of the major north-south highway

02:43that serves as the country's economic lifeline,

02:46gives them considerable leverage.

02:48However, Showa's location also presents a unique challenge.

02:52Situated on the border of the Amhara and Aromia regions,

02:56Showa is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities.

02:59This proximity has in recent years become a source of tension.

03:02The Fano's presence in Showa is seen by some

03:05as a threat to the fragile ethnic balance,

03:08further exacerbating existing tensions.

03:10Despite these challenges,

03:12the Fano and Showa remain resolute.

03:15They see themselves as the vanguard of the Amhara resistance,

03:19tasked with protecting their people and their cultural heritage.

03:23Their struggle is not just about securing their borders,

03:25it is about safeguarding their identity.

03:27Gondar, a city steeped in history and tradition,

03:34stands as a beacon of the Fano resistance.

03:37Once the ancient capital of Ethiopia,

03:39Gondar's legacy is deeply intertwined with the Amhara identity.

03:43Leading the charge in Gondar are Habti Woldi and Mesafint Tesfu,

03:48two figures revered for their unwavering commitment to the Amhara cause.

03:52The Fano's grip on Gondar is palpable.

03:54Their presence is visible on every corner,

03:57from the armed checkpoints they manned

03:58to the passionate speeches delivered in the city's squares.

04:02Their control extends beyond the city limits,

04:04reaching into the surrounding countryside

04:06and encompassing the strategically important Wolkite region.

04:10The historical significance of Gondar is not lost on the Fano.

04:13They believe they are fighting to reclaim their rightful place in Ethiopia,

04:17to restore the Amhara people to their former glory.

04:20The Fano's unwavering commitment to this cause

04:23has turned Gondar into a symbol of resistance.

04:29Gojam, a land of fertile plains and rolling hills,

04:32has become the epicenter of the Fano insurgency.

04:35Led by the astute and uncompromising Zemene Kassi,

04:39the Fano and Gojam have demonstrated their military prowess

04:42and strategic acumen.

04:43In a series of audacious offensives,

04:45they have seized control of major towns,

04:48including parts of Bahir Dar, the regional capital.

04:51The Fano's success in Gojam can be attributed to several factors.

04:55The region is home to a large and deeply rooted Fano presence,

04:59with a long history of resistance

05:01against external threats and internal oppression.

05:04The Fano and Gojam enjoy widespread popular support,

05:07with many locals viewing them as protectors

05:10against government overreach and ethnic violence.

05:12This support has been crucial in providing the Fano with intelligence,

05:16logistical support, and a steady stream of recruits.

05:19The Fano's control over Gojam has effectively cut off the government's access

05:23to a significant portion of the Amhara region,

05:26further emboldening the insurgency.

05:28Gojam has become a crucible,

05:30where the fate of the Amhara people

05:32and the future of Ethiopia itself

05:34hang precariously in the balance.

05:36A Volo, a land of ancient monasteries,

05:42breathtaking landscapes,

05:44and a rich spiritual heritage,

05:45is also a land of warriors.

05:47Known historically as Beite Amhara,

05:49or the House of Amhara,

05:51Volo has been a cradle of Amhara culture

05:53and identity for centuries.

05:55Leading the Fano resistance in Volo

05:57is Mirewadajo,

05:59a figure revered for his courage

06:00and strategic brilliance.

06:02Under his command,

06:03various Fano groups,

06:05including the formidable East Amhara Fano

06:07and Bete Amhara Fano,

06:09have united to challenge the government's authority.

06:12The Fano and Volo

06:13are fighting to protect their cultural heritage,

06:16threatened by the ongoing conflict

06:17and what they perceive as the government's neglect.

06:20They are determined to safeguard their ancient monasteries,

06:24symbols of their faith and identity,

06:26from the ravages of war.

06:28The Fano's presence in Volo

06:29has transformed the region into a battleground,

06:32where the echoes of ancient battles

06:34now mingle with the sounds of modern warfare.

06:38The fight in Volo

06:38is as much about preserving the past

06:40as it is about securing the future.

06:43The Fano are determined to ensure

06:44that their children inherit the same land,

06:47the same faith,

06:48and the same freedom

06:49that their ancestors fought so hard to protect.

06:52The Fano resistance,

06:57once a decentralized movement

06:58with various groups operating independently,

07:01reached a turning point on May 9, 2025,

07:04with the formation of the Amhara Fano National Force,

07:07or AFNF.

07:09This landmark event,

07:10which sent shockwaves through Ethiopia and beyond,

07:13signaled a new chapter in the Amhara struggle.

07:15The AFNF represents a unification

07:18of the various Fano factions

07:19operating in Showa, Gondar, Gojam, and Wolo.

07:23This unified force,

07:24with a centralized command structure

07:26and a clear set of objectives,

07:28aims to streamline the Fano's military efforts

07:30and present a more formidable challenge

07:32to the Ethiopian government.

07:34The AFNF's primary objectives are clear,

07:37to ensure the safety and security

07:39of the Amhara people,

07:41strengthen community bonds,

07:42collaborate with other entities

07:44that share their vision for Ethiopia,

07:46and promote the overall well-being

07:47of the Amhara people.

07:49The establishment of the AFNF's

07:51central command in Khwara Gondar

07:53further solidified their unity.

07:55The formation of the AFNF

07:57is a clear indication

07:58that the Fano are not just fighting

08:00a defensive war.

08:01They are actively working towards a future

08:03where the Amhara people have a stronger voice

08:06and a more secure existence within Ethiopia.

08:11The Fano's struggle for autonomy

08:13within Ethiopia

08:14has sent ripples throughout the Horn of Africa,

08:17impacting regional dynamics

08:18and drawing in neighboring countries.

08:21Eritrea, under the leadership of Isaias Afwerki,

08:24has been accused of providing support to the Fano,

08:27exploiting the situation

08:28to further its own interests.

08:31Eritrea's alleged involvement

08:32is seen as an attempt to gain leverage

08:34over Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed,

08:37particularly regarding access

08:38to the strategic Asab seaport.

08:41The influx of Ethiopian refugees,

08:43primarily Tigrayans fleeing

08:44the ongoing conflict in Tigray,

08:47has also strained relations

08:48between Ethiopia and Sudan.

08:50Sudan, grappling with its own internal strife

08:53following the outbreak of civil war

08:55in April 2023,

08:56now hosts over 50,000 Ethiopian refugees.

09:00This influx has placed a significant burden

09:02on Sudan's already strained resources

09:04and has led to border clashes

09:06between Sudanese forces

09:07and the Fano near the border town of Matema.

09:10The involvement of external actors,

09:12the displacement of populations,

09:14and the potential for the conflict

09:15to spill over international borders

09:17are all factors that threaten

09:19to exacerbate an already volatile situation.

09:24The international community

09:26has watched with growing concern

09:28as the Fano insurgency

09:29in Ethiopia intensifies.

09:32The United States,

09:33the United Kingdom,

09:34and the European Union

09:35have all issued statements

09:36condemning the violence

09:37and calling for peace talks.

09:39However,

09:40these calls for dialogue

09:41have been met with resistance

09:43from the Ethiopian government,

09:45which views the Fano

09:46as a terrorist organization

09:48and refuses to negotiate with them.

09:50The government's heavy-handed approach,

09:52including the use of drone strikes

09:54against civilian populations,

09:56has drawn international condemnation.

09:59The United Nations

10:00has accused the Ethiopian government

10:02of human rights abuses

10:03and has called for an independent investigation

10:06into the allegations of atrocities

10:08committed by both sides.

10:10The Fano,

10:11emboldened by their recent successes,

10:13show no signs of backing down.

10:15However,

10:16Amhara Fano leaders

10:17recently responded

10:18to Ambassador Irvin J. Masinga's

10:20address for dialogue.

10:22The Ethiopian government,

10:24determined to crush the rebellion,

10:25seems unwilling to consider

10:27a negotiated settlement.

10:28The fate of Amhara

10:29and indeed the future of Ethiopia

10:31hangs in the balance.

10:33The first of the EU

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