The United States Government voiced concern on Friday regarding the “targeted civilian killings” occurring in the northern Ethiopian town of Merawi. Urging Ethiopian authorities to grant access to human rights monitors in the region, the US emphasized the necessity for transparency and accountability.

In a statement released on social media platform X, US Ambassador to Ethiopia, Ervin Massinga, conveyed the US government’s concern over the reported civilian killings in Merawi. Massinga stressed the urgent need for unrestricted access for independent human rights monitors and called for an impartial investigation to ensure those responsible are held accountable for their actions.

The reported atrocities in Merawi, situated in the Amhara region, come after a series of clashes last year between Ethiopia’s military and an ethnic Amhara self-defense militia known as Fano. These confrontations prompted the federal government to declare a state of emergency in August, which was recently extended by lawmakers for an additional four months.

Although specific details about the incidents in Merawi are scant, local media sources have indicated that government forces allegedly carried out door-to-door searches for Fano supporters, resulting in the deaths of numerous civilians.

Access to media in the Amhara region of 40 million people remains severely restricted by authorities, hampering independent verification of the situation on the ground.