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By staff reporter
April 26, 2020 (Ezega.com) – An armed group in northern Ethiopia and the Amhara state government have reached an agreement to end the fighting in the Semien Gonder area of northern Ethiopia.
The agreement was reached in the city of Bahir Dar, the region’s capital, in the presence of Mesafint Tesfu, leader of the armed group known as “Fano” and senior officials from the regional government.
The two sides have been providing conflicting information about who committed the killings and looting of property in the area, including firearms from police stations.
“The parties agreed to stop fighting and members of the armed group will either be recruited as soldiers and members of the riot police or will be given loans, land for investment and agriculture,” said the chief administrator of Semien Gondar Zone Worku Lemlemu.
Late last month, Fano said he will not drop his weapons before the demands of the Amhara people are met. The demands include the return of the Welqait, Raya, Dera and Metekel zones from the neighboring regional state of Tigray.
According to Friday’s agreement, which was negotiated by religious parents, the armed forces of both parties will not conflict, but will work together for the peaceful resolution of security problems in the region.
Recently, the Gonder city administration accused Fano of killing and kidnapping people, confiscating private and public property and releasing hundreds of prisoners and looting weapons from police stations.
However, the Chief Administrator of the Semien Gondar Zone said the government will be held accountable to Fano members who allegedly committed serious crimes, such as kidnapping, theft, and confiscation of public property.
The new agreement was reached after the regional government demanded that the armed group disarm and peacefully surrender to the government earlier this month.
“Fano’s demands are on border and identity issues. The regional government was involved in the arrest of Fano members and I used to do the same in revenge,” Mesafint told VOA Amharic service.
According to the leader, based on the new agreement, Fano, along with the regional government, will pursue the demands regarding borders and identity with neighboring Tigray and the federal government.
The regional government said it arrested more than 100 Fano members in a counterattack in the middle of this month.
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