Mekelle’s Ayder Comprehensive Referral Hospital said allegations that it treated wounded fighters involved in the recent clashes between Fano militias and government forces in Kobo, Amhara Region are false.
Hospital officials and direct observation by eyewitnesses confirm no such admissions or treatment took place.
On August 9, 2025, heavy fighting broke out in Kobo, a town in Ethiopia’s Amhara Region, between Fano militias and government forces, including the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and regional forces. The clashes have led to numerous unverified claims.
Social media accounts circulated allegations that Ayder Comprehensive Referral Hospital in Mekelle had admitted and treated wounded fighters from the clashes between Fano militias and government forces.
However Ayder Comprehensive Referral Hospital officials have strongly denied claims that they treated wounded fighters from the Kobo conflict. Responding to request from Wegahta, the hospital’s Public Relations office stated, “We have not admitted any injured combatants from the Amhara region related to recent clashes.”
Emergency services staff members and eyewitnesses also confirmed to Wegahta Facts that no such patients were seen in the emergency department.
The heavy clashes on August 9 in Kobo, Amhara Region, has also prompted an accusation from the Kobo city communications which accused forces it described as “Tigray’s junta” of participating in the fighting between Fano militias and government troops. Although the claim lacked supporting evidence, it added to growing allegations of Tigrayan forces’ involvement in the Amhara conflict.
Our attempt to get comments from Tigray’s peace and security bureau regarding the accusations by the Kobo city administration was unsuccessful.
However Since the conflict began between the Ethiopian government and Fano militias in the Amhara region, accusations against Tigrayan forces have increased. Government institutions, multiple medias outlets, social media activists and individuals have been circulating this claim.
Earlier this year, on March 10, 2025, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces accused Brigadier General Migbey Haile, a senior military commander, and his associates of encouraging and coordinating a military offensive by Fano forces against the army in the Amhara region under the banner of the “Campaign for Unity.”
However Brigadier Gen. Megbey Haile has denied accusations by the ENDF, calling the claims baseless & motivated by people who want to divert attention from the real agendas.
Both the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the federal government have exchanged accusations of attempting to undermine each other by supporting opposition armed groups aimed at instigating instability.
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front accuses the federal government of failing to implement the Pretoria peace agreement, supporting armed groups in occupied Western Tigray, and establishing a new armed group in the Afar region.
Meanwhile, the federal government blames the TPLF of collaborating with the Eritrean government and the Fano militias to undermine Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.
The Tigray Interim Administration has so far remain silent on the recent allegations, neither confirming nor denying involvement.