Since the 1990s, the Amhara people of Ethiopia have been subject to ethnic violence, including massacres by Tigrayan, Oromo and Gumuz ethnic groups among others, which some have characterized as a genocide. Large-scale killings and grave human rights violations followed the implementation of the ethnic-federalist system in the country. In most of the cases, the mass murders were silent with perpetrators from various ethno-militant groups— from TPLF/TDF, OLF–OLA, and Gumuz armed groups.
Ethnically motivated attacks against the Amhara have been reported, with mass graves being discovered in various locations. The results of two consecutive National Census Analyses and a report by CSA head Samia Gutu revealed that over 2 million Amhara could not be traced. The figure is generally associated with the decades-long massacres and enforced disappearances of the Amhara people. From the ongoing nature of the violence, the actual number is expected to be higher.
The Tigrayan People's Liberation Front (TPLF) among other groups were formed in the 1970s with a manifesto and plan, for Tigray to secede from Ethiopia. Previous resentments between ethnic Tigray and Amhara rulers were seeking recognition as the legitimate defender of Ethiopianism was reported. The Tigray manifesto is criticized for incorporating polarizing contents that symbolize the Amhara people as the responsible ethnic group for socio-economical, and country-level political and historical issues. Violence against ordinary Amhara, its intellectuals, and civic leaders started in the early 1990s, with the armed Liberation Front groups occupying many parts of the country.
At the end of the 17-year communist era in 1991, the ethnic-nationalist groups such as the TPLF controlled full power and this regime change triggered a series of attacks against the Amhara. The TPLF became the dominant power and ruled the country for twenty-seven years as the EPRDF coalition— a political entity that evolved from the Marxist–Leninist rebels movement. However, the authoritarian regime collapsed in 2018 with several unrests and tensions built during its period.
Following the 2018 EPRDF political reform, the Oromo-led Prosperity Party secured the position to rule the country, A power struggle occurred between the former and current ruling parties which led to the Tigray War. Reports show that a pro-TPLF youth group carried out the massacre of Amhara civilians in the town of Mai-Kadra. Following the Tigray Defense Forces (TDF) recapture of most of Tigray which lead to the subsequent withdrawal of government forces, the TDF invaded the Amhara and the Afar regions in July 2021, massacring and causing severe destructions that are reported as serious war crimes against civilians. The Mai Kadra and other massacres in the Amhara region that occurred since the start of the war has expanded the map and volume of the mass killings the already occurring violations in various places: Oromia, Benishangul-Gumuz (Metekel Zone), Tigray, the SNNPR, and the Amhara region.
Background
The Amhara and Agew peoples coexisted and shared historical and cultural values for centuries. Similar to other Ethiopian nationals, both groups contributed to building the Nation and they also made contributions to the nation's long historical accounts— they live in most parts of Ethiopia. Since agriculture is the main source of food in the country, Amhara and Agew farmers earn income from producing staples. Due to the frequent drought occurrence, they are, however, stricken by poverty— more than 80 percent of them are traditional farmers. In some instances, these groups are mis-presented as Orthodox Christians, although, significant proportion of them are Muslims and Jews. Both groups have been exposed to similar existential risks— including the systematic massacres and crimes disclosed in this article. However, claims of genocide against the Agew people requires an independent report.