The Birakat Massacre in Mecha-Ethiopia: Urgent Appeal for International Intervention to stop the Atrocities of Abiy Ahmed’s Regime

Mengistu Musie (Dr.)
Mmusie2@gmail.com

April 5, 2025

April 1, 2025, will be remembered as another dark chapter in the tragic and bloody history unfolded in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. On this grim day, the peaceful town of Birakat, located in the Mecha District of Northern Gojjam, was rocked by a brutal massacre carried out by forces loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Government troops, alongside allied militias, unleashed violence  on the civilian population, killing at least 48 innocent people in cold blood. The event has drawn

widespread condemnation and is seen by many as a continuation of a calculated and systematic campaign of terror, suppression, and ethnic cleansing targeting the Amhara population.

According to eyewitnesses and local sources, the violence began when two innocent civilians were shot and killed by government forces. These killings, though tragically common in recent months,

sparked immediate outrage within the community. In unusual turn of events, a local pro-government militia known as Adma Betagn, that had previously allied itself with the federal troops, broke ranks and condemned the army’s brutal actions. Members of Adma Betagn reportedly confronted the soldiers responsible for the civilian executions, attempting to stop the bloodshed. This confrontation quickly escalated into an armed clash between the two groups.

The situation deteriorated rapidly. What began as a disagreement over the killing of civilians morphed into a violent intra-military conflict. As the two-armed forces – government troops and Adma Betagn militia – turned their weapons on each other, the town of Birakat became a war zone.

The turmoil led to even more indiscriminate slaughter and damage, with civilians caught in the crossfire. The massacre intensified as government troops, perhaps seeing betrayal from their former allies, doubled down in their assault, slaughtering dozens more.

Seleshe Kebede, a prominent representative of the Gojjam wing of the Fano resistance, confirmed that this tragic event marked a significant turning point in the region’s conflict dynamics. In a public statement, Seleshe noted that the massacre of civilians in Birakat sowed deep divisions within the invading forces. “This mass killing,” he said, “created friction among the government’s forces. What was once a united front is now collapsing from within.” He emphasized that the Adma Betagn militia, which had previously worked alongside federal forces, was no longer willing to participate in the military’s campaign of violence against its own people.

Indeed, in the aftermath of the Birakat massacre, Adma Betagn’s stance shifted dramatically. The group attempted to expel the army from the area and signaled its desire to ally with the Fano resistance forces. Fano, a grassroots Amhara defense movement, has been fighting against the central government’s encroachment and repression since Abiy Ahmed launched what many describe as a genocidal campaign in the region. If confirmed, this partnership between Fano and some regional militia defectors has the potential to drastically change the balance of power on the ground.

The massacre in Birakat follows closely on the heels of the 2024 Merawi massacre, in which dozens of unarmed civilians were also brutally gunned down by federal forces. That atrocity drew rare international attention and condemnation, but little was done to hold perpetrators accountable or prevent future violence. Now, just months later, Birakat joins a growing list of towns and villages across the Amhara region that have been subjected to state-sanctioned terror.

The broader implications of this event are deeply concerning. First, it illustrates the crumbling unity within the armed forces deployed to the Amhara region. Disagreements over tactics, morality, and the sheer brutality being carried out under government orders have created serious divisions among once-allied militias and regular army units. These internal fractures may lead to a broader realignment of forces on the ground, potentially creating new rebel coalitions.

Second, Adma Betagn’s defection represents a significant moral and political victory for the Fano resistance. It demonstrates that even some who once stood with the government are no longer willing to ignore the atrocities being committed. This development could encourage other regional forces or neutral actors to reconsider their positions and join the growing opposition to Abiy Ahmed’s rule.

Third, the Birakat massacre further exposes the nature of the campaign being waged in the Amhara region. This is not merely a military operation aimed at restoring law and order. It is a systematic, deliberate, and targeted campaign aimed at suppressing Amhara identity, weakening Amhara resistance, and ultimately eliminating the political and cultural influence of the Amhara people.

The patterns of mass killings, forced displacements, arbitrary arrests, and destruction of infrastructure are too consistent and too widespread to be accidental.

Both domestic and international actors need to recognize the gravity of the situation. Ethiopia, once hailed as a beacon of hope in the Horn of Africa, is descending into the abyss of authoritarianism, civil war, and genocide. The international community must move beyond token statements and begin to take concrete actions, diplomatic, legal, and humanitarian—to prevent further bloodshed and hold perpetrators accountable.

The people of Birakat did not choose to be part of a battlefield. They were farmers, shopkeepers, mothers, students—ordinary civilians whose only “crime” was being born Amhara in a state that views their very identity as a threat. Their deaths must not be in vain. Their stories must be told, and their memory must fuel the struggle for justice and freedom.

As the Fano resistance continues its fight, bolstered now by the defection of former government allies, the hope for liberation grows stronger. The path forward will not be easy, and more blood may be shed. But Barakat has become a symbol—not just of suffering but of resistance, defiance, and the possibility of unity against tyranny.

Let history remember April 1, 2025, not only as a day of horror but as the beginning of a broader awakening in Amhara’s struggle for justice and survival.

Historical Context: A Pattern of Violence

The massacre in Birakat on April 1, 2025, is not an isolated event. It is a grim continuation of a disturbing pattern of violence that has taken root under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Since taking office in 2018, Abiy has presided over a political environment increasingly shaped by ethnic polarization, militarized governance, and impunity for atrocities committed by state forces.

While his administration initially promised unity and prosperity under the banner of “Medeemer” a philosophy touted as a call for togetherness and synergy – has instead fostered fragmentation, ethnic cleansing, and unchecked authoritarianism. For the Amhara people, this reality has become a sustained nightmare.

The recent massacre in Birakat, a town in Mecha District, Northern Gojjam, underscores this systemic brutality. Government troops and affiliated local militia forces stormed the town and executed 48 civilians in cold blood. The victims were not combatants. They were farmers, merchants, mothers, and elders—people who posed no threat other than that they belonged to an ethnic group increasingly perceived as politically undesirable by the regime. Eyewitnesses recount scenes of indiscriminate killing, homes set ablaze, and children hiding in terror. The attack was not spontaneous; it was a calculated act of terror meant to send a message to a defiant population: resist, and you will be eliminated.

This atrocity mirrors the massacre in Merawi, which took place in March 2024 – just over a year prior and within the same district. That earlier massacre left more than 200 civilians dead after government troops conducted systematic door-to-door killings. A six-month pregnant woman and a seven-year-old boy were among the victims, their deaths emblematic of the innocence lost and the scale of the horror. In both Merawi and Birakat, the killers wore the uniform of the national defense forces or were closely allied with them, acting under the pretense of restoring order. In reality, they were carrying out a policy of collective punishment.

The people of Mecha District have not forgotten Merawi, nor will they forget Birakat. These events are etched into the collective memory of a region that has endured state-sanctioned violence for years. The district also holds a symbolic place in the modern Amhara resistance. It is the birthplace and stronghold of Zemene Kasie, a beloved Fano commander who emerged as a beacon of hope and defiance against tyranny. Zemene’s leadership, courage, and vision for an inclusive and unified Ethiopia stand in stark contrast to the divisive and brutal politics of the ruling regime. His roots in Mecha District and the continued presence of his family there may help explain why the area has become a repeated target of government repression. The regime understands what Mecha represents—a nucleus of resistance and a bastion of Amhara identity.

The political system currently in place was not designed to accommodate unity. It was engineered to prevent it. The roots of this system trace back to the TPLF/EPRDF era when ethnic federalism was institutionalized as a tool to fragment the Ethiopian state and suppress the influence of the Amhara people. Rather than being dismantled under Abiy Ahmed, this structure has been entrenched even further. Abiy’s administration inherited and then amplified a system built on ethnic lines, using it to divide the population and eliminate perceived threats. The core of this ethnic-based political order—crafted and implemented by the TPLF, OLF, and OPP – was designed with anti-Amhara sentiment at its foundation. It is a system built to weaken the idea of a united Ethiopian nation.

This is no accident. The historical role of the Amhara people in shaping and preserving the Ethiopian state is well-documented. From Emperor Menelik II’s unification campaigns to the resistance against Italian fascism, the Amhara have long been central to defending Ethiopia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. This legacy has become a target in a political landscape that rewards ethnonationalism and penalizes national unity. The Amhara are not merely seen as an ethnic group but as a political idea – Ethiopia as one nation, indivisible and strong. This vision opposes the fragmentation desired by those who benefit from division and chaos, both domestically and externally.

The international community has responded to this violence with indifference at best and complicity at worst. After the Merawi massacre, international actors issued the usual statements of “concern” and “calls for restraint” but failed to take meaningful action. No sanctions were imposed. Impartial bodies launched no investigations. No credible effort was made to pressure the Ethiopian government to halt its campaign of repression. This silence has emboldened the perpetrators and signaled to the regime that it can continue committing atrocities without consequence. The massacre in Birakat, then, is not only a national tragedy – it is an international failure.

The message is clear to the people of Birakat and Mecha: they are being punished not for what they have done but for who they are and what they represent. In the eyes of a regime that sees unity as a threat and opposition as treason, the very existence of a proud, organized, and resilient Amhara population is intolerable. Yet, in attempting to crush this spirit, the regime is sowing the seeds of its own undoing. Every act of violence further delegitimizes the state in the eyes of the people.

Every massacre creates more martyrs, more resistance fighters, and more voices demanding justice.

The tragedy of Birakat cannot be understood in isolation. It must be seen as part of a deliberate and escalating war on a population that has refused to surrender its identity or its vision for Ethiopia. The Amhara people’s long history, contributions to the Ethiopian state, and enduring commitment to national unity make them both the backbone of the nation and the principal target of those who seek to dismantle it.

As the blood of Birakat joins that of Merawi and countless other unnamed victims, the question for all Ethiopians and for the international community is this: how much longer can the world turn a blind eye? How many more towns must burn? How many more children must die before this regime is held accountable.

The people of Mecha are not alone. The truth is spreading throughout Ethiopia and beyond. And with it comes the determination of people that have faced centuries of adversity while remaining unbroken. The memory of Birakat will not fade. It will be a call to conscience, a rallying cry for justice, and a reminder that the fight for a free and united Ethiopia continues – no matter the cost.

On April 1, 2025, the assault on Birakat was swift, ruthless, and deliberate. Mid-morning, military trucks, and armored vehicles rolled into the town. Soldiers and Adma Betagn militia – local operatives aligned with the ruling party – surrounded the area. Checkpoints were set up.

Communication lines were cut. Panic gripped the community as residents realized what was coming.

Eyewitnesses, some of whom managed to escape into the surrounding hills, report that homes were set on fire, people were pulled from their homes, and summary executions took place in the streets.

Women, children, and older people were not spared. Some victims were targeted for their relation 6to known or suspected Fano members, while others were killed at random simply for being Amhara.

By the end of the day, 48 civilians lay dead. The town was left in ruins. Survivors buried their loved ones in shallow graves, fearing further attacks. The smell of gunpowder lingered, but what hung heavier was the fear—that this would not be the last time.

Vengeance as a Strategy of Control

The Ethiopian government claims to be fighting terrorism in the Amhara region. However, the reality on the ground paints a much darker picture. Far from combating terrorism, the federal army – under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and top military officials, many of whom are ethnic Oromo – is increasingly acting like a terrorist force itself. Reports from local communities describe widespread atrocities, including the rape of women, the killing of innocent civilians, and the destruction of homes and livelihoods. These are not isolated incidents; they are systematic acts of violence occurring throughout the Amhara region.

Rather than engaging with a legitimate terrorist threat, the government has turned its firepower against the very people it claims to protect. The so-called fight against terrorism has become a war of repression against the Amhara people. The Fano movement, formed initially as a grassroots defense force to protect Amhara communities from ethnic cleansing and targeted attacks, is now being vilified and scapegoated for the country’s broader instability. Instead of addressing the root causes of unrest, the government labels anyone suspected of supporting or sympathizing with Fano as an enemy of the state.

This broad-brush approach has led to brutal crackdowns and sweeping human rights violations. Military forces loyal to the regime have become instruments of terror, waging what can only be described as a campaign of vengeance against communities with a strong sense of resistance and autonomy. In regions like North Gondar and North Wollo, the army’s actions have exceeded traditional military objectives and entered the realm of collective punishment.

The recent massacre in Birakat, like the earlier atrocities in Merawi, is a grim testament to this disturbing trend. These massacres are not simply about quelling a rebellion or neutralizing an insurgency. They are acts of psychological warfare—meant to instill fear, suppress dissent, and crush the will of a people who have historically resisted domination. Barakat was not chosen randomly. Its symbolic importance, mainly its association with resistance leader Zemene Kasie’s hometown nearby, made it a target for the government’s repressive campaign.

By attacking towns with historical and cultural significance, the regime is attempting to erase both the physical and symbolic foundations of Amhara resistance. What is unfolding in these areas is not counterinsurgency – it is state-sponsored terror. The use of heavy artillery, drone strikes, and house-to-house raids on civilian populations suggests a military strategy aimed not at defeating an armed opponent but at breaking the spirit of a community.

International observers, human rights organizations, and the broader global community must pay closer attention to the realities in the Amhara region. What is being presented as a fight against terrorism is, in many ways, a cover for widespread repression and ethnic targeting. If left unchecked, the ongoing violence could further destabilize Ethiopia and lead to greater humanitarian catastrophe. The people of Amhara deserve justice, not persecution.

The Role of Adma Betagn: Militia as a Tool of Ethnic Repression

The use of the Adma Betagn militia in the Birakat massacre highlights the Ethiopian regime’s increasing reliance on weaponized local collaborators to enforce its violent and often genocidal agenda in the Amhara region. These militias, frequently composed of individuals drawn from outside the local area and aligned with the ruling Prosperity Party, are given arms, logistical support, and, most crucially, complete impunity for their actions. They serve as the regime’s foot soldiers in a brutal campaign to subjugate the Amhara population and crush all forms of resistance.

In the lead-up to the Birakat attack, the Adma Betagn militia was strategically deployed to assist the federal army in its crackdown. Their orders were clear: to terrorize the local population, drag civilians from their homes and support the execution of suspected Fano sympathizers. However, in a rare and significant twist, the local Adma Betagn unit stationed in Birakat reportedly refused to comply after witnessing unimaginable brutality – including the killing of two innocent children by federal troops. The event proved to be a turning point.

Rather than follow orders, the local militia rebelled. Tensions quickly escalated into an armed confrontation between the Adma Betagn group and the forces loyal to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. According to Gojjam Fano leader Arbegna Seleshe Kebede, this internal conflict among government forces continued for four days. During this period, federal troops, operating outside any ethical or legal bounds, retaliated by launching a series of door-to-door raids. In these raids,

48 civilians were summarily executed, many in front of their families. Seleshe Kebede also reported that the rebelling Adma Betagn members ultimately reached out to the Fano for assistance, underscoring the growing fractures within the regime’s coercive machinery.

This episode sheds light on a dangerous and deliberate policy: the outsourcing of repression. By using supposedly “local” militias to carry out violent operations, the central government can obscure the true nature of its war against the Amhara people. It creates a false inter-ethnic or localized conflict narrative while retaining complete control over the chain of command and strategy. This approach not only increases the intensity of the violence but also deepens community divisions and sows’ long-term instability.

The events in Birakat are not the result of an uncoordinated or chaotic military campaign. They are the outcome of meticulous planning and deliberate targeting. The deployment of Adma Betagn militias in a historically symbolic and defiant town like Birakat shows the regime’s intention to make an example of the community – to break its spirit through calculated brutality. Far from a counterinsurgency mission, this was a state-sanctioned massacre dressed in the language of security and anti-terrorism.

As internal cracks begin to show even among the regime’s forces, the international community must recognize the Ethiopian government’s actions for what they are: crimes against humanity.

The weaponization of militias and the orchestration of terror campaigns cannot be ignored or justified under the pretext of national security. The people of Amhara are under siege, and the world must no longer look away.

The Silencing of Witnesses and Journalists

As with numerous other atrocities committed under Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s regime, the aftermath of the Birakat massacre has been characterized by a calculated campaign to suppress the 9truth. In the days and weeks following the killings, the government has worked tirelessly to control the narrative, limit information flow, and prevent the world from understanding the accurate scale of the atrocity.

Independent journalists have been barred from entering the area, and access to Birakat remains heavily restricted. Internet and mobile networks have been deliberately disrupted, making it nearly

impossible for survivors to share information or contact relatives outside the region. Families searching for missing loved ones face severe risks—many are met not with help but with intimidation, threats, or even arrest. These tactics instill fear and silence potential witnesses, ensuring the government’s version remains unchallenged.

International human rights organizations have also struggled to gain access to the area. Their limited ability to monitor and investigate the situation means that the Ethiopian government operates with near-total impunity. This isolation has become a hallmark of Abiy Ahmed’s rule – keeping atrocities hidden until they can be spun, denied, or erased.

Despite the dangers, brave individuals resist the regime’s efforts to bury the truth. Eyewitnesses, activists, and local informants have begun leaking audio recordings, photographs, and victim lists through diaspora media and underground networks. These fragments of testimony are slowly building a picture of what happened in Birakat—an image of mass execution, terror, and cold-blooded revenge against a civilian population.

The motive behind the Birakat massacre, like others before it, appears rooted not in counterinsurgency but in deep-seated vengeance and ethnic hatred—explicitly targeting the Amhara people. The town of Barakat was not chosen randomly. Its strategic and symbolic importance cannot be overstated. Located near the stronghold of the iconic Fano resistance commander Zemene Kasie, Birakat symbolizes defiance against authoritarian rule and ethnic subjugation.

By targeting Birakat, the regime sought not only to dismantle the remaining pockets of resistance but also, to send a chilling message to any community daring to support the Fano movement. The attack was meant to break morale, erase historical memory, and assert dominance through terror. The fact that the massacre was carried out with such brutality—door-to-door executions, the killing of children, and the use of proxy militias – speaks volumes about the government’s intentions.

These are not random acts of violence. They are part of a broader, systematic effort to suppress an entire population under the guise of maintaining national unity and fighting terrorism. As the Ethiopian state continues to repress voices, conceal evidence, and obstruct justice, the international community, media, and human rights activists must magnify testimonies that emerge. The truth about Birakat must be told, because silence in the face of such acts is complicity.

The Amhara Genocide and International Silence

Perhaps the most heartbreaking and infuriating dimension of the ongoing genocide against the Amhara people is the deafening silence of the international community. Western governments – including major players like the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union – have essentially turned a blind eye to the mass killing of Amhara civilians. These nations often

speak passionately about democracy, human rights, and the rule of law. Yet, in the case of Ethiopia, they continue to provide diplomatic cover, financial assistance, and even military support to the regime of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

The rationale, as always, is geopolitics. Ethiopia is considered a key strategic ally in the volatile Horn of Africa, a region plagued by terrorism, cross-border conflicts, and migration crises. Abiy Ahmed, despite overwhelming evidence of his government’s involvement in war crimes and ethnic cleansing, is still seen in some circles as a stabilizing figure. This toxic calculus has enabled the Ethiopian regime to commit horrific atrocities with near-total impunity. The continued flow of international aid and cooperation send a clear message: geopolitical objectives come before human lives.

Silence is complicity, not impartiality. Every bullet fired in Birakat, every civilian dragged from their home and executed, and every child killed echoes more painfully because the world has chosen not to act. This is not just a security failure or a regional conflict spiraling out of control. What is happening in the Amhara region is genocide.

The 1948 United Nations Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide defines genocide as acts intended to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group. The repeated, systematic targeting of Amhara civilians – based solely on their identity, location, and suspected affiliations with resistance groups like Fano – undeniably meets this definition. These are not single occurrences. The state is conducting calculated acts of extermination.

It has been a long time since the international community has recognized this reality. Referring to these atrocities as mere “security operations gone wrong” or “internal conflict” is not only inaccurate – it is morally indefensible. The massacre in Birakat must not be remembered only as a local tragedy but as damning evidence in a broader case for justice. It belongs in the international record, alongside other crimes against humanity.

The West is again failing a moral test. Just as the international community stood by during past genocides – in Rwanda and Bosnia – so too are they standing by now as the Oromo-led government of Abiy Ahmed systematically attacks the Amhara people. It is a shameful double standard. The same media outlets and governments that rightfully focus attention on Ukraine and Palestine have remained disturbingly quiet about a two-year campaign of mass violence in Ethiopia. That silence is not only unjust—it is itself a crime.

We call upon the United Nations, the U.S. Secretary of State, and the international media to speak out. Human rights organizations must investigate, report, and advocate for accountability. Abiy Ahmed and his government must answer for their crimes. Justice delayed is justice denied—and for Amhara’s people, the world has waited far too long.

Despite the horror, the Amhara people remain unbroken. Across Northern Gojjam and beyond, communities mourn, organize, and resist. The spirit of Fano lives not only in armed fighters but in mothers who hide their children, farmers who protect their neighbors, and young people who risk arrest to tell the world what is happening.

Zemene Kasie’s legacy is not one of war for its own sake – it is a legacy of dignity, defense, and determination. The government can attempt to demolish places like Birakat, but it cannot erase the values that its citizens hold.

A Call to Action

The world must act now. The genocide of the Amhara people is not a hypothetical scenario, nor is it a distant threat – it is unfolding before our eyes in real-time. The massacre in Birakat is not an isolated tragedy but a stark reminder of the Ethiopian government’s systematic and calculated campaign of ethnic violence against the Amhara population. The massacres at Birakat, Merawi, Debre Elias, and other towns across the region show a pattern of state-sponsored atrocities we can no longer ignore.

For too long, the international community has silently offered diplomatic platitudes while others murder, displace, and terrorize innocent civilians. This silence is not just shameful—it is enabling.

It emboldens perpetrators and deepens the suffering of those crying out for justice. But it is not too late to intervene. The world must now rise to the occasion and take concrete, urgent action to stop this unfolding genocide.

International human rights organizations, diaspora communities, media outlets, and conscience- driven governments must unite to demand accountability and protection for the Amhara people. The following measures are critical:

Most importantly, the world must recognize what is happening for what it is: genocide.

Under the 1948 UN Convention, the deliberate targeting of Amhara civilians based on ethnicity meets the definition. These are not “clashes” or “counterinsurgency measures.”They are crimes against humanity – acts of extermination.

The Amhara people cannot wait any longer. Every day without action is another day of suffering, displacement, and death. The international community must choose: Will it stand with the victims or remain complicit through silence?

History will remember what we did – or failed to do – at this moment. Let the Birakat massacre be the final wake-up call. Justice must prevail. The time to act is now.

References,

Amnesty International. (2023). Ethiopia: Atrocities in Amhara Region Must Be Investigated. Retrieved from https://www.amnesty.org Human Rights Watch. (2023). “We Will Erase You From This Land”: Crimes Against Humanity in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region. Retrieved from https://www.hrw.org United Nations Human Rights Council. (2023). Report of the International Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia. Retrieved from https://www.ohchr.org Al Jazeera. (2024). Ethiopia’s Hidden War: Civilian Deaths in Amhara Escalate Under Military Crackdown. Retrieved from https://www.aljazeera.com BBC News. (2024). Ethiopia Conflict: Mass Killings Reported in Mecha District. Retrieved from https://www.bbc.com