Over 20 Civilians Killed in Fresh Attack in Ethiopia’s Oromia Region

Over 20 civilians, including women and children, were killed in Ethiopia’s Oromia region after suspected Fano militia attacked the Nono district. The area has long faced clashes between federal forces, the Oromo Liberation Army, and Fano fighters. Authorities say the violence is worsening and continues to harm civilians.

More than twenty civilians were brutally killed in an attack by armed men in Ethiopia’s Oromia region on Sunday, according to two local civil servants who spoke to AFP on Wednesday. The incident marks yet another episode of violence in a region that has for years been mired in unrest and instability. Oromia, which surrounds the capital city Addis Ababa, has been a flashpoint of conflict since 2018, following the eruption of hostilities between federal government forces and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The OLA, which the Ethiopian authorities have labelled a “terrorist organisation,” has continued to wage a campaign against the state, while peace negotiations between the two sides have made little to no headway.

Complicating the security situation further, the Fano militia — a traditional self-defence group composed mainly of members of the Amhara ethnic community — has extended its operations beyond its home region of Amhara and into parts of Oromia. This militia, which initially emerged as a local defence force, has increasingly been accused of targeting civilians during its operations.

One of the civil servants who spoke to AFP on condition of anonymity said that members of the Fano group “attacked civilians with swords and guns” in the Nono district, a locality situated about 110 kilometres southwest of Addis Ababa. The source described the attack as sudden and ruthless, leaving behind scenes of devastation. “Twenty-five people, including women and children, were killed by terrorists,” the official reported, adding that four of the victims later died in hospital from injuries sustained during the assault.

A second civil servant, who also asked not to be identified due to security concerns, confirmed the assault but gave a slightly different casualty figure, saying that “22 people were killed by Fano terrorists.” No further details were provided about the identities of the victims or the motive behind the attack, though both sources agreed that the situation in the area remains tense and unpredictable.

Regional security official Temesgen Kasa told AFP that Fano militants have been active in the Oromia region for the past four years, often exploiting moments of instability to stage violent assaults against civilians. According to him, “the situation has worsened in recent years,” as such attacks have become more frequent and increasingly deadly. Temesgen, who hails from the neighbouring Central region, expressed concern that the ongoing violence could further destabilise communities and deepen existing ethnic tensions between the Oromo and Amhara groups.

The Oromia region has long been torn apart by overlapping conflicts and political rivalries, making it one of the most volatile areas in Ethiopia. Despite repeated government assurances of restoring peace, residents continue to live in fear of sudden attacks. In July, the Ethiopian Red Cross issued a statement highlighting the severe humanitarian toll of the ongoing clashes. The organisation warned that the fighting was having “devastating consequences” for civilians, particularly in remote and hard-to-reach areas where access to medical aid, food, and shelter remains extremely limited. Many families have been displaced, and some villages have been left in ruins as armed groups continue to battle for dominance in the region.