A drone strike in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has reportedly killed more than 100 people, according to a report from BBC Amharic

Apr 23, 2025

Drone Strike in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region Kills Over 100, BBC Amharic Reports

Ethiofact – A drone strike in Ethiopia’s Amhara region has reportedly killed more than 100 people, according to a report from BBC Amharic, citing eyewitnesses and local sources.

The incident took place on Thursday, 18th April, around a primary school in Gedeb town, part of Enarj Enawga district in Eastern Gojjam Zone. The victims were civilians involved in community development activities such as the construction of schools and the clearing of land, several witnesses told the BBC Amharic service.

Witnesses reported the scene was chaotic and grim. “There were screams, people were panicking. Some were instantly dead,” one resident explained to the BBC Amharic. “It was not like anything we have ever seen.”

Most of them were young males, although others consisted of elders and workers in the immediate area. Some of them died immediately, although some died later after being rushed to area health posts. More than 70 bodies were reportedly taken for burial at a local church, and the estimated total of dead is expected to be around 120.

Local authorities refuted such accounts, informing the BBC Amharic that the drone strike was against Fano forces—a militia that has an armed presence in the area—and not against civilians. “It was a legitimate action against armed forces,” one of the officials declared, dismissing claims of the alleged death of civilians.

But several residents informed the BBC that there were no weapons-bearing combatants at the time of the attack. “We are familiar with the Fano militia, and they were not here,” explained a trader to the BBC. “Those were innocent people trying to better the town.” The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission assured BBC Amharic that it has opened an inquiry into the case.

The attack is the result of the recent instability within the Amhara region, where federal and local militia forces have clashed over the last two years. The drone strike has left residents in shock at a time when they should have been celebrating the Easter holiday.

“This year there is no celebration,” commented a resident. “There is only grief all around.”