Analysis on the situation between Abiy and Muhammad's agreement

Analysis of the situation between Abiy and Muhammad's agreement. Designated a world heritage site by the United Nations in 1978, Lalibela’s 11 medieval cave churches were carved out of monolithic blocks to form a “New Jerusalem”, after Muslim conquests halted Christian pilgrimages to the Holy Land.

The UN in August said in the latest round of fighting in Amhara at least 183 people had been killed in the first month. With internet connections down across the region, Reuters has been unable to obtain a clear picture of the latest situation.

The latest Oromo and Amhara clashes between Friday and Sunday were over farmland in Mesno town in the Oromiya Special Zone, which has a majority Oromo population, two residents said.

“At least 30 people died during the clash while trying to defend their areas and their farmland,” said a priest in the town who did not wish to be identified, adding he had witnessed 12 of the dead being buried.

Ethiopia’s federal government and Amhara region’s government had no immediate comment to Reuters’ requests for comment. Reporting by Giulia Paravicini and Dawit Endeshaw; writing by Giulia Paravicini and George Obulutsa; Editing by Alex Richardson and Jason Neely

Two residents confirmed the fresh wave of fighting. One said the army was stationed outside Lalibela and by the airport and started fighting on Saturday, firing heavy weapons towards a mountain overlooking the town.

The Ethiopian government, federal army, and Amhara’s regional administration did not immediately respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. Lidetu Ayalew, an Amhara politician based in the United States who grew up near Lalibela, said he feared the churches could be harmed.

“The churches risk being struck and destroyed due to careless firing of heavy weapons,” he said in a statement on Monday.