State of Emergency General Directorate says law and order being restored in Amhara region

Addis Ababa, August 10, 2023 (FBC) – The State of Emergency General Directorate stated that the activities of restoring law and order in the Amhara region have been undertaken successfully and the main cities of the region have been freed from the threat of the bandits.

In a statement sent to FBC on Wednesday afternoon, the General Directorate stated that it has evaluated the initial phase of activities undertaken since its establishment.

The first phase of the plan was to return the towns of Bahir Dar, Debre Markos, Debre Birhan, Lalibela, Gonder and Shewa Robit to peaceful conditions. Due emphasis was given to these areas because of their large population, high commercial and tourist activity, and political and industrial centers, the General Directorate said.

The destructive and extremist group was offered the opportunity to submit and handover its arms to the national security forces. However, it refused the call and opted violence. Accordingly, proper action was taken to ensure that law and order is restored in those six cities.

Disillusioned by this looting gang, the general public of the region has provided appropriate support to the national security forces to undertake the law enforcement mission, the General Directorate said, expressing appreciation to the people of the region for showing such solidarity and support.

The Directorate said security forces were clearing members of the defeated extremist group from hideouts in those cities and towns. With the continuous clearing of the members of the group, the towns and the cities will soon return to peaceful activities, the Directorate asserted.

It also announced curfews in the six cities — Bahir Dar, Lalibela, Gondar, Shewa Robit, Debre Berhan and Debre Markos — until August 23, and said 14 suspects had been arrested in Addis Ababa.

Furthermore, the General Directorate confirmed that regular flights will resume to the aforementioned cities from Thursday, August 10, 2023; all types of urban transport (except three-wheeled vehicles and motorcycles) will resume services; government, community services, businesses, health, finance, etc. institutions will return to usual services.