What is Fano

Fano is the Amhara people’s cultural heritage, an ancient tradition that rises in times of danger to defend their country and community. It is a noble and selfless act, rooted in the protection of women, children, and the vulnerable. Fano unites Amhara civilians from every walk of life ; doctors, students, teachers, and farmers, who set aside their daily lives to form a volunteer defense force in service of their people.

Over time it grew more militarized, especially as the Amhara region became a central battleground in the war between federal forces and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). In 2022, the government and the TPLF signed a peace agreement ending a brutal two-year war. Soon after, the government moved to dismantle regional special forces, presenting it as an effort to unify Ethiopia’s military.

For many in the Amhara community, the situation carried a very different meaning. Oromo nationalist ambitions appeared to expand unchecked, and the Tigray Defense Forces, still more than 200,000 strong, remained intact while attacks on Amhara civilians intensified. The government’s decision to disarm not only the Amhara Special Forces but also any gun-carrying locals was viewed not as reform, but as an attempt to strip the population of its means of self-defense. Public outrage grew, leading to widespread protests that quickly spiraled into armed confrontation. What began as demonstrations evolved into an organized resistance led by Fano, a movement that has since expanded across the Amhara region and gained significant support among the global diaspora.

In August 2023, the government declared a state of emergency in Amhara. The official justification: increasing instability, “armed extremist groups” operating, economic damage, and the breakdown of order under existing law.