Ethiopia's federal government has acknowledged the loss of control over certain districts and towns to militia fighters in the Amhara region, escalating the conflict in Africa's second most populous nation. Residents have reported intense gunfire and military aircraft sightings in various areas.

The Amhara region has been under a six-month state of emergency declared by Ethiopia's Cabinet, following clashes and mass protests linked to a plan to integrate regional forces into the military. This effort by the federal government to consolidate security powers has arisen in the aftermath of a two-year-long conflict in the Tigray region. During that conflict, Amhara regional forces and militias played crucial roles as allies to the federal military.