Drone strike kills Pro-Government fighters in Ethiopia’s Amhara

Scores of fighters aligned with Ethiopia’s federal government were killed this month when a military drone struck their encampment in the Amhara region, according to accounts from local officials and health workers.

The aerial attack occurred on January 15 in Waghemira, an area that has seen prolonged clashes between federal forces and armed groups. According to sources who spoke to AFP, the strike hit a site used by militias supporting government operations, in what officials later described as an apparent case of “mistake.”

A regional official, speaking by telephone on condition of anonymity, said the location had served for years as a base for fighters backing federal troops. The official said military personnel later acknowledged the operation was unintended, despite reports that the drone had hovered over the area for some time before firing.

The official described arriving at the scene to find flames, heavy smoke and extensive casualties, including fighters with severe injuries. He estimated that at least 36 people were killed instantly, with two more dying later while receiving medical treatment. Medical responders suggested the toll was higher. Abebaw Zinabu, a health worker involved in treating the wounded, told AFP more than 40 people were killed.

The incident has raised questions about how a camp long associated with pro-government forces could have been mistakenly targeted. The local official said the site had housed militia members for years who had fought alongside federal forces across remote areas, far from their families, and expressed concern over the circumstances that led to the strike.

Drone warfare has become one of the defining features of Ethiopia’s recent conflicts, particularly since the outbreak of the Tigray war in 2020. Initially, the federal government relied heavily on imported unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from countries including Turkey, Iran, China and the United Arab Emirates. These drones were used for surveillance and precision strikes, giving the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) a technological edge over rebel groups.

Their use, however, drew international criticism amid reports of high civilian casualties, with drone strikes frequently hitting non-combatants and civilian infrastructure.

Following the conflict in Tigray, drone operations expanded into other regions, notably Amhara and Oromia. In these areas, UAVs became a central tool in the government’s campaign against local militias and insurgent groups. Reports from late 2023 and 2024 documented a rise in drone strikes in Amhara, where federal forces sought to suppress the Fano militia. Drones allowed the government to project force while limiting the deployment of large numbers of ground troops, reinforcing a military-first approach to internal security.

In March 2025, Ethiopia took a significant step toward “self-sufficiency” in drone warfare with the inauguration of SkyWin Aeronautics Industries, a state-run facility in Addis Ababa. The plant began assembling drones from imported components, primarily Chinese airframes, signaling the government’s ambition to reduce dependence on foreign suppliers and build a domestic defense industry. While officials said the factory would serve both civilian and military purposes, its primary role was to strengthen Ethiopia’s military capabilities. The facility has also raised the prospect of future drone exports to other African countries, potentially reshaping regional security dynamics.

The expansion of domestic drone production has coincided with continued battlefield use in Amhara and Oromia, even as a fragile calm holds in Tigray. The government has defended its drone campaign as necessary to maintain stability and counter insurgencies.

The latest strike in Waghemira underscores the Ethiopian military’s increasing dependence on drone warfare at a time when the country faces multiple internal conflicts in Amhara and Oromia, alongside renewed tensions in Tigray.