Events in the year 2023 in Ethiopia.
Incumbents
President: Sahle-Work Zewde
Prime Minister: Abiy Ahmed
Events
Ongoing
War in Amhara
Unrest in Gambela
Amhara genocide
Demolitions of civilian houses, religious and historical cites in Addis Ababa, killings, and bodily Injury. Detention and arbitrary arrest Severe fertilizer shortage & agricultural crisis in Amhara Ethnic violence in Konso Ethnic violence against Amaro Koore Benishangul-Gumuz conflict Oromo conflict Denial of the Gurage and Wolayta ethnic groups from forming regional statehood. COVID-19 pandemic in Ethiopia
January
January 11 —15 Amhara IDPs and civilians killed in Haro Kebele by Oromo Special Forces (regional forces). January 12 — Ethiopian Security forces arrested and detained members of the Ethiopian Human Rights Council named, Bereket Daniel, Nahom Hussien, Daniel Tesfaye, and Bizuayehu Wendimu, January 20 — 98 civilians killed by the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) along with other ethnic Oromo militants in multiple Amhara villages in North Shewa, Amhara region. 155 people injured and 1,930 houses damaged (set on fire). January 23 — 25-episcopate was formed in Oromia and Southern Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples' Region, led by Abune Sawiros, which is condemned by the Holy Synod of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, led by Patriarch Abune Mathias. The incident resulted in crisis in the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church.
February
February 3 — Ethiopian prime minister Abiy Ahmed met with officials of the Tigray People's Liberation Front for the first time since the signing of a peace treaty in November. Early February — 3 to 8 people killed when police attacked the Ethiopian Orthodox Church in Addis Ababa. February 15 — 50 ethnic Amhara killed by Oromo armed men in the Oromo region. February 25 — The Murle ethnic militiamen from South Sudan crossed in to Ethiopia and killed and injured civilians in Boy kebele of the Agnewak zone in Gambela. The Murle militiamen also killed and guns were seized. February 28 — Police attacked civilians during the 127th Adwa Victory Celebrations and inside the religious congregation at the Saint George Church. At least one person shot by a security force. Reliefweb reported that the victim is an Amhara and a civics teacher at a high school,.
March
March 7 — UN's High Commissioner stated that there needs to be tangible progress on accountability for the ongoing conflict-related violations and abuses in the country. He also calls on the implementation of the report by his Office and the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission. March 8 — Human rights activist and journalist Meaza Mohammed received the 2023 International Women of Courage Award which was hosted by Department of State in Washington DC. March 10 — Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ethiopia and announced new U.S. aid to "advance" vital steps for building peace and stability in the country. March 16 — The Addis Ababa city administration banned about 10,000 tuk-tuk (″Bajaj") taxis. The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission published a statement explaining the rights violations and calling on the administration to lift the restrictions. March 18 — Finance minister stated that minimum of USD20 billion is needed to rebuild the devastated northern part of Ethiopia which includes the Afar, Amhara and Tigray regions. March 18 — Reliefweb reported the critical needs of tens of thousands of Amhara IDPs in North Shewa and other parts of the Amhara region. It also highlighted the widespread malaria cases in Afar— the highest in the past five years. The resumption of services in Tigray was also covered in the report. March 20 — OCHA classified locations (woredas) occupied by 600,000 Amhara IDPs as hotspots. March 22 — Daniel Bekele, Chief Commissioner of the Ethiopian Human Rights Commission briefed UN member states at the 36th Meeting – 52nd Regular Session of the Human Rights Council. He made calls to the international community to support and coordinate Transitional Justice efforts in Ethiopia. March 22 — UNHCR reported that about 100,000 new Somali refugees arrived in Ethiopia in February 2023 alone and called for urgent funding. Erupted hostilities in Laascaanood town reported as the main cause for this displacement. March 22 — In May 2021, the Council of ministers designated the TPLF as a terrorist group. Following the peace agreement, the Parliament voted in March 2023 to remove TPLF from the list of terrorist organisations. March 23 — OCHA reported 2,276 cholera cases in East Bale, Guji and Borena zones of Oromia and Daawa Zone of Somali regions.