Transport between Addis Ababa and Bahir Dar, the capital of the Amhara region, has completely halted as of August 13, 2024, due to the ongoing year-long war in the region.

In the run-up to August 13, warnings reportedly issued by Fano leaders brought vehicle movement to a standstill, according to a Bahir Dar resident cited by The Reporter Amharic. Recently, a series of explosions have been reported at various locations within the city.

A driver in Bahir Dar, quoted by the paper, said he had parked his vehicle and was waiting for the road to reopen, uncertain about where the orders were coming from or how they would be conveyed. It has been a year since the conflict between the Fano militants and the federal and regional forces in the region began.

A Bahir Dar resident employed by an NGO told the Reporter that vehicles have been stuck in and out of the city since August 13. Furthermore, since August 17, the city has been at a standstill, with no people or vehicles moving since five o’clock in the morning. The employee said that due to the tensions, his NGO and other international and national organizations instructed their workers to stay home and work remotely, according to The Reporter. Although residents in the area have not received any official communication, they reported that even small shops in the neighborhood have been closed.

In 2023, when clashes erupted between the Fano militants and government forces, residents were trapped in their homes for over a week.

A resident of Debre Markos, located about 300 km from Addis Ababa, stated that although no vehicles are traveling to or from the capital, the city remains calm. However, he added that shots could be heard from surrounding towns.

There have also been reports from Gashena town in North Wollo Zone of gunshots heard in the areas of Muja and Kul Meski on August 15 and 17, 2024.