International News
Ethiopia declares ‘state of emergency’ over Amhara violence
Ethiopia’s federal government on Friday declared a six-month “state of emergency” as violent clashes escalate between the national army and local fighters from the northern region of Amhara.
The fresh unrest in Africa’s second-most populous country comes just nine months after the end of a devastating two-year war in the neighbouring region of Tigray which also drew in fighters from Amhara.
“It has become necessary to declare a state of emergency as a situation has emerged where it has become difficult to control this unacceptable movement under current law,” the office of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said in a statement posted on social media.
The government communications service later said the measures would cover Amhara “for six months” but could be imposed “nationwide in relation to any situation or movement that aggravates the security problem”.
Clashes in Amhara have escalated in recent weeks, prompting travel warnings from foreign governments and the grounding of flights.
Tensions have been rising since April when the federal government announced it was dismantling regional forces including in Amhara, where nationalists feared the move would weaken the region
On Thursday, local authorities in Amhara asked the federal government for assistance managing security as the situation had become “difficult to control” and was causing social and economic disruption.
The government said the violence “endangered the constitutional order” and the decision to invoke a state of emergency was “unanimous”.
According to the decree, street rallies and gatherings are banned, while anyone found violating its provisions could face “imprisonment of between three to ten years”.
The decree also allows the authorities to declare curfews and for suspects to be searched and held without a warrant.
‘Restriction on movement’
A resident of Lalibela, a UNESCO World Heritage site famous for its 12th and 13th century rock-cut churches, told AFP on condition of anonymity that the town and its airport were both under the control of the local militia Fano.
“There is a movement of civilians and people as we speak and there hasn’t been any exchange of fire” between federal forces and Fano fighters, he said, adding that the internet had been restored after an hours-long outage.
A rickshaw driver in Gondar, another city in Amhara, said the internet was down and the mood was “tense” following fighting on Thursday.
“Fano (fighters) are roaming around the city here and possibly preparing for a big fire exchange” in case federal troops, which had retreated, return to Gondar.
The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission on Friday said that civilians had been attacked, with damage reported to property, while transport services and the internet had been suspended in some areas.
“Restrictions on movements have been imposed in some places,” the state-affiliated independent rights watchdog said, urging the authorities to take “all necessary precautions… to avoid any harm and human rights violations” during their operations.
Ethiopian Airlines, the national carrier, on Friday, announced it had cancelled flights to the regional cities of Dessie, Lalibela and Gondar.
Rising tension
Amhara’s regional forces and local militias backed Ethiopia’s army in their war against rebels from Tigray.
That conflict ended with a peace deal in November 2022 but Amhara “special forces” and Fano fighters continue to control Western Tigray, a fertile expanse claimed by both Tigray and Amhara.
The peace accord angered nationalist elements in Amhara and protests erupted when Abiy announced that local forces would integrate into the army or regional police in a bid to bolster “unity” in multi-ethnic Ethiopia.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “expressed concern” about the situation in Amhara in a phone call with Abiy on Friday, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.
The UK’s Foreign Office has warned its citizens against travelling to certain parts of Amhara, citing “increased violence in these areas characterised by Fano taking control of these areas”.
The Spanish Embassy in Addis Ababa on Tuesday also urged its nationals not to travel to Amhara, citing “instability” in the region.
Manuel Neuer has been called up to Germany’s World Cup squad – two years after his international retirement.
The 40-year-old was named as part of Julian Nagelsmann’s 26-man squad for the tournament this summer, having not featured for his country since Euro 2024.
Among the list include Premier League players Malick Thiaw and Nick Woltemade – both of Newcastle – Arsenal striker Kai Havertz, Liverpool midfielder Florian Wirtz and Brighton’s Pascal Gross.
Injured duo Serge Gnabry and Anton Stach and forwards Karim Adeyemi, Kevin Schade and Niclas Fullkrug are among those to miss out.
Germany’s World Cup squad in full
Goalkeepers: Oliver Baumann (Hoffenheim), Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich), Alexander Nubel (Stuttgart)
Defenders: Waldemar Anton (Borussia Dortmund), Nathaniel Brown (Eintracht Frankfurt), David Raum (RB Leipzig), Antonio Rudiger (Real Madrid), Nico Schlotterbeck (Borussia Dortmund), Jonathan Tah (Bayern Munich), Malick Thiaw (Newcastle)
Midfielders: Pascal Gross (Brighton), Joshua Kimmich (Bayern Munich), Felix Nmecha (Borussia Dortmund), Aleksandar Pavlovic (Bayern Munich), Angelo Stiller (Stuttgart), Leon Goretzka (Bayern Munich), Florian Wirtz (Liverpool), Jamie Leweling (Stuttgart)
Forwards: Maximilian Beier (Borussia Dortmund), Kai Havertz (Arsenal), Lennart Karl (Bayern Munich), Jamal Musiala (Bayern Munich), Leroy Sane (Galatasaray), Deniz Undav (Stuttgart), Nick Woltemade (Newcastle)
Former Chelsea midfielder John Obi Mikel has opened up on the club’s decision to appoint Xabi Alonso as their new manager.
The Blues confirmed the Spaniard as their next head coach following the conclusion of the 2025-26 season, with Alonso set to take charge ahead of the upcoming campaign.
Mikel had previously been vocal about Chelsea’s managerial philosophy, urging the club’s ownership to move away from short-term head coaches and interim appointments and instead bring in a proper manager with full control over the squad
Speaking on his most recent podcast, Mikel said:
“I am glad the owners listened to me, and listened to the fans.
“Forget about coaches, what we have always had are managers, and what we need is a manager who decides on the players he wants out and the players who can stay.
“We need a strong personality, and that is what we have got now in Alonso.
“That title has been changed from coach to manager, but I hope it’s not just words and he is actually allowed to manage the squad. But I am very happy with the appointment.”
Chelsea are still in the hunt for Europa League football, and a win over Sunderland on the final day of the Premier League season would go a long way in determining whether Alonso inherits a European stage to build on next season.
Enzo Maresca is believed to have signed a three-year deal to replace outgoing Man City manager Pep Guardiola, after it was revealed that the legendary head coach will be leaving the Etihad at the end of the season.
Speculation around Guardiola’s departure date has been rife as the season draws to a close, despite the Catalan having one year left on his contract.
According to report, Man City’s sponsors were among those to have been told that Guardiola will be calling time on a remarkable trophy-ladened spell on Sunday.
The report also shared that Maresca, Guardiola’s former assistant, was a front-runner for the vacant spot at the dugout, with Fabrizio Romano confirming on Tuesday morning that the ex-Chelsea manager will be taking over.
The Italian head coach has been out of work since his mutual departure from Stamford Bridge under strained circumstances on January 1.
But even before his acrimonious mid-season exit, Maresca has been viewed as a long-term successor to Guardiola following their stint working together at Man City.
The 46-year-old served as Guardiola’s assistant between 2022 and 2023 after previously coaching Man City’s youth sides, before departing to earn Championship promotion with Leicester.
Maresca then went on to win the Uefa Conference League and the Club World Cup with Chelsea during his 18-month spell in west London.
Guardiola is set to celebrate his time in English football with an open-top bus parade in Manchester after winning the Carabao Cup and FA Cup this season, but until Monday night, the manager had been notably vague over his future plans.
But before news broke of his shock exit, Guardiola had been keen to tamp down any suggestions that he would be commemorated with any fanfare.
‘The club don’t have to do anything, honestly,’ Guardiola, who has yet to officially confirm his departure, said. ‘The important thing in our lives is that when you look back, you can look with a big smile and say “that was good”.
‘Bernardo (Silva) and John (Stones) can feel that. We spoke about it over the last few days. When you’re old, a grandfather, you can look at the memories. That is the most important thing in life.’
Tired of addressing his contractual situation, Guardiola added with a dose of sarcasm: ‘Whatever happens at the end of the season – and when I extend my contract for three more years – I can look back and say, “how nice has that been?”
‘That is the most important thing by far. Most of the people who lived this time here together can feel it.’
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