Evaluating the multidimensional security impacts of the recent political crisis in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

This article examines the multidimensional security impacts of the recent political crisis in Ethiopia's Amhara region. The crisis stems from long-standing grievances rooted in the lack of execution of ethnic federalism and the contested post-2018 political transitions. Unsettled territorial claims over Wolkayit and Raya, combined with the security dilemma following the 2022 Pretoria Agreement and the disbandment of the Amhara Special Force, triggered an armed struggle between the Ethiopian National Defence Forces (ENDF) and Fano militias. Using a qualitative case study approach, drawing from the literature, digital media, and field interviews in North and South Gondar, the study thematically analyses deep insecurities across both traditional (military) and nontraditional (human security) dimensions. The findings revealed that the crisis has caused economic collapse, displacement, mass casualties, and severe disruptions to health and education systems, endangering progress across several sustainable development goals (SDGs). The humanitarian crisis deepened ethnic divisions, eroded public trust, necessitated inclusive dialogue, constitutional reform, and a reduction in ethno-nationalist tensions.