Deep Dive: Fano Militia Captures 150 ENDF Soldiers in Amhara – Full Breakdown
In the early hours of September 10, the Amhara‑based Fano militia announced that it had seized over 150 soldiers from Ethiopia’s National Defence Force in the mountainous Wadla‑Delanta‑Dawunt triangle. The claim came after a week of artillery exchanges, road blockades and house‑to‑house raids that left dozens dead on both sides. If verified, the capture marks one of the largest single‑handed seizures of regular troops by a paramilitary group since the 2020 Tigray war. The development threatens to widen the fragile stalemate that has held the country’s centre‑north region in a tense cease‑fire for months.
What Happened on the Ground
According to a report by the regional news outlet Shabelle, Fano fighters launched a coordinated assault on ENDF positions in the three kebeles of Wadla, Delanta and Dawunt on September 9, after weeks of sporadic skirmishes over control of the historic Gonder‑Debre Markos highway. The militia claimed that its units, numbering roughly 1,200 fighters, surrounded an ENDF battalion that had been deployed to protect a humanitarian convoy. By dawn, the militia said it had taken more than 150 soldiers captive, including two junior officers, and forced the remaining troops to retreat toward the town of Debre Sina. A short video posted on Fano’s Telegram channel showed a line of uniformed soldiers with ENDF insignia, hands bound, being escorted past a makeshift checkpoint. Local eyewitnesses, such as farmer Alemu Getaneh, described the fighting as “intense artillery fire followed by close‑quarter combat in the valleys. The ENDF, for its part, released a brief statement confirming that some of its personnel were “unaccounted for” after the clash, but refused to confirm numbers. The Ministry of Defence later announced that a rescue operation was being planned, citing the need to “secure the safety of our troops and prevent further escalation. The incident took place in a region that has seen intermittent clashes since the federal government’s October 2022 decree granting Amhara authorities greater control over regional security forces, a policy that Fano argues undermines its autonomy.
Why the Capture Matters
The seizure of over 150 ENDF soldiers is more than a tactical win for Fano; it signals a shift in the balance of power between the federal army and regional militias. First, it demonstrates that Fano retains the logistical capability to mount large‑scale operations, despite recent disarmament pledges made in the Addis Ababa peace talks. Analysts at the International Crisis Group note that the militia’s ability to isolate and overrun an entire battalion suggests a deepening of its command structure and access to heavy weaponry that was previously thought to be under federal control. Second, the incident threatens the fragile cease‑fire that has kept the Amhara region from spiraling into full‑scale war. Residents of the Wadla‑Delanta‑Dawunt area report shortages of food and medicine, as supply routes have been blocked by both sides. The capture could trigger retaliatory strikes on civilian villages, a pattern observed during the 2020‑2022 conflict in Tigray where military reprisals often fell on non‑combatants. Third, the political fallout could reverberate in Addis Ababa, where Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed is already under pressure from opposition parties demanding a clearer strategy for dealing with regional militias. If the federal government is seen as unable to protect its own troops, it may embolden other groups, such as the Oromo Liberation Army, to test the limits of federal authority. For ordinary Amhara citizens, the immediate impact is heightened insecurity: schools have been closed, markets shuttered, and families are forced to relocate to avoid being caught in crossfire. The capture also raises humanitarian concerns, as the International Committee of the Red Cross has warned that detained soldiers may lack access to medical care, a situation that could violate the Geneva Conventions if not addressed promptly.
““The detention of our soldiers is unacceptable and will be met with a decisive response,” said Brigadier General Berhanu Alemu, spokesperson for the ENDF, during a press briefing in Addis Ababa on September 11.”
What We Still Don’t Know
Despite the vivid video released by Fano, independent verification of the exact number of captured soldiers remains elusive. The ENDF has not provided a detailed roster, and the federal government has declined to allow international observers into the conflict zone. It is unclear how many of the detained troops are combat‑ready versus support personnel, and whether any have been released or exchanged in the days following the clash. The condition of the prisoners is also uncertain; no medical teams have been reported on
Despite being a paramilitary group, Fano’s leadership includes several former university professors who help plan its battlefield logistics.
