” In a major breakthrough for Ethiopia’s security efforts in the Amhara region, a large contingent of Fano insurgent fighters — including key leaders — have surrendered to the Ethiopian National Defence Force (ENDF) and handed over all their weapons, military officials confirmed in a live statement on December.
The surrender, which took place at a designated collection point in the North Wollo zone, involves over 800 fighters and 12 senior commanders, according to ENDF Spokesperson Colonel Getnet Adane.
He added that the group had turned in more than 500 firearms, including assault rifles, machine guns, and rocket-propelled grenades, along with thousands of rounds of ammunition.
“This is a significant step toward restoring peace and stability in Amhara,” Colonel Adane said. “The fighters have agreed to participate in the government’s disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration (DDR) program, which includes vocational training and support to rebuild their lives.
.” The development comes after months of negotiations between the ENDF and Fano representatives, following a 2025 conflict that displaced tens of thousands of people in Amhara. The insurgent group, which emerged in 2020 to defend Amhara interests, had been engaged in clashes with federal forces over regional autonomy and security concerns.
The news has sparked fresh debate in Nigeria, where observers have drawn sharp contrasts with local peace deals that have often allowed armed groups to return to forest strongholds with their weapons — and in some cases, publicly boast about their military capabilities.
Speaking to Channels Television, Nigerian security analyst Dr. Kemi Adeyemi noted: “We’ve seen instances where terrorists sign peace agreements but keep their arms, then go on TV to claim they could have caused more harm. Ethiopia’s model of securing full weapons handover before reintegration is something we should look at closely.
.” In recent years, Nigeria has attempted multiple peace deals with groups like Boko Haram and ISWAP in the northeast, but many have collapsed due to continued violence and failure to disarm. Last month, a former insurgent leader appeared in a video from a forest camp, claiming his group still held “enough firepower to take over a town” — despite having signed a truce in 2024.
Ethiopian officials have said the DDR program for surrendering Fano fighters will be overseen by independent monitors to ensure compliance. Meanwhile, in Nigeria, calls are growing for the government to review its peace negotiation framework to prioritize disarmament as a non-negotiable condition.
