Asaminew is an icon of Amhara nationalism -- a movement that is fast gaining traction amid a spate of grisly massacres and as war in the neighbouring Tigray region inflames ethnic sentiment. The people of Amhara, Ethiopia's second largest region by population, have been caught up in cycles of ethnically motivated massacres in recent years. "The Amhara people were the last to join political parties based on ethnic characteristics, to define themselves as Amhara," Belete said. #photo3Besides warning darkly of an "Amhara genocide", they are determined to reintegrate long-contested parts of western and southern Tigray into Amhara. Since then, ethnic Amharas have been relocating to abandoned farms and homesteads in a state-backed campaign the United States has said involves acts of ethnic cleansing.

Source: Ethiopian News July 26, 2021 04:07 UTC