Ethiopian Government Accused of Forcibly Recruiting School Children Amid War in Amhara Region

Ethiopian Government Accused of Forcibly Recruiting School Children Amid War in Amhara Region

Reports are emerging from Ethiopia’s Amhara region accusing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government of abducting underage children—both boys and girls—from elementary schools and forcing them into military training under the pretext of “national service.” This controversial campaign comes at a time of escalating conflict between the federal government forces and the Amhara Fano militia.

According to local sources and community leaders, government agents have been raiding schools across the Amhara region, seizing children without the consent of their families. These children, many reportedly as young as 12 or 13, are taken to military training camps and told they must fight as part of a national service obligation. Parents and guardians are left with no explanation or legal recourse, and some have not heard from their children since their disappearance.

The ongoing war between the federal government and Fano militia groups has destabilized much of the Amhara region. The Fano, originally a grassroots self-defense militia, have taken control of approximately 80% of the region’s towns and villages. Unlike traditional insurgent movements, most Fano fighters operate within their own local areas, defending their communities rather than launching wider campaigns. Their stated goal is to protect the Amhara people from what they perceive as targeted violence and marginalization under Abiy Ahmed’s rule.

Human rights organizations and diaspora advocacy groups have condemned the use of children in armed conflict and are calling for urgent international attention. “This is a blatant violation of international humanitarian law and the rights of the child,” said one human rights lawyer. “Forcing children into war zones under the guise of service is not national duty—it’s state-sponsored kidnapping.”

Amid the growing chaos, the people of Amhara find themselves caught between federal military aggression and the deepening humanitarian crisis. The displacement of families, destruction of schools, and use of child soldiers reflect a grim reality that many fear is only the beginning of a larger, more tragic war.

International observers and human rights watchdogs are urged to investigate and hold the Ethiopian government accountable for its actions. Meanwhile, communities across the Amhara region continue to resist, not out of politics, but out of a desperate need to survive and protect their children, culture, and future.