KEYIR NEWS - The National Movement of Amhara (NaMA) has reaffirmed its position that the enduring and fundamental questions of the Amhara people can only be addressed through a peaceful and principled struggle, rejecting violence as a viable means to secure long-term regional and national stability.
In a statement issued following its Central Committee’s regular session held on July 19–20, 2017 EC (26–27 July 2025 GC), the party expressed deep concern over the worsening humanitarian, security, and economic situation in the Amhara region. NaMA noted the continuing conflict has exacted a heavy toll on civilians, including loss of life, displacement, and widespread trauma.
“The deteriorating state of affairs in the Amhara region is causing untold suffering,” the statement read, citing incidents of rape, abduction, armed robbery, and the massacre of entire families, as consequences of unchecked armed confrontations. It characterised the crisis as both a regional and national tragedy requiring urgent, unified responses.
NaMA stressed that victories achieved thus far in defending Amhara interests were the result of collaborative efforts with fellow Ethiopians, underscoring that these successes came despite the “complexity of the challenges” and “organised conspiracies” by actors it described as “historical enemies of the Amhara people.”
The party issued a call to armed actors currently operating in the region, urging them to “heed the people’s cry for peace” and avoid serving as proxies for what it described as anti-Amhara and anti-Ethiopian agendas. It warned that continuing along the current path of confrontation only exacerbates the suffering of the populace and undermines legitimate causes.
Highlighting the scale of the humanitarian crisis, the Central Committee urged all stakeholders—governmental and non-governmental—to mobilise in defence of innocent civilians and prioritise a peaceful resolution.
NaMA also took aim at segments of the media and political commentators who, it claimed, had unjustly labelled peace advocates as “extremists” or “terrorists.” Such characterisations, the party said, demonstrate a failure to understand or acknowledge the genuine pain endured by the people of the region and could further polarise public discourse.
“The path forward lies not in incendiary rhetoric or reckless labelling, but in an inclusive national dialogue,” the party asserted.
In closing, NaMA reiterated its unwavering commitment to peaceful means as the only legitimate and sustainable pathway to resolving the Amhara people’s longstanding grievances. It called on the federal government, civil society actors, and international partners to engage constructively toward de-escalating tensions and addressing the root causes of the conflict.
By ZELALEM GIRMA | KEYIR STAFF WRITER