Amhara News Today: Alamata Woreda Administrator Shot Dead

Amhara News Today: A woreda administrator was shot dead in Raya Alamata yesterday when provisional Amhara administration was dismantled in this area.

Since Saturday, clashes have been ongoing in Raya Alamata between Tigray and Amhara fighters. Both Tigray and Amhara have their claims to Raya Alamata, Korem and Ofla.

Molla Derbew, Alamata woreda administrator, was shot dead near Ayer Marefia. Ayer Marefia is situated around 5 km away from Alamata city. After Tigray forces, supported by Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF), laid siege to Alamata city yesterday, Amhara provisional government leaders and militia members started fleeing towards Kobo in North Wollo. Molla Derbew was killed while he was on his way to Kobo city.

Another senior Amhara leader killed in Alamata yesterday is Haftamu Fenka. Former lecturer at Debre Tabor university, Haftamu was working as the organizer of Amhara identity and border restoration committee for Raya Alamata. He was killed along with Molla Derbew in Ayer Marefia. Both were reportedly killed in a shootout with the Ethiopian security forces reportedly.

In recent weeks, both Amhara and Tigray people have been holding separate protest rallies in and near Raya Alamata. Tigray fighters yesterday pushed towards Alamata city forcing Amhara militia and Amhara provisional government officials out of the disputed zone towards Wollo. Read more…..

Last year, Ethiopian federal government proposed a 4-stage solution to break the deadlock between Tigray and Amhara regions. The solution includs returns of IDPs, disarmament of Amhara militias, election of new administration and holding of referendum to determine the future status of these disputed areas.

It seems yesterday, Ethiopian federal government, in co ordination with Tigray, dismantled Amhara backed provisional government and expelled Amhara militia members from Raya Alamata in order to facilitate the return of Tigrayan IDPs. Thousands of Tigrayans were displaced from Raya Alamata, Korem, Welkait ec during the 2 year long deadly war in northern Ethiopia which came to an end in November 2022.