Addis Ababa (AMECO)– On the eve of the Ethiopian New Year, armed combatants operating in the North Gondar Zone of the Amhara region are laying down their weapons, offering what local officials describe as a seasonal “gift of peace” to the public.

Among them is Amsayaw Gebre, a former battalion commander within the regional armed groups who previously served 11 years in the state security apparatus. In 2023 (2015 in the Ethiopian calendar), believing political grievances could be resolved through the barrel of a gun, he took to the bush to join the insurgency.

Speaking to Amhara Media Corporation Digital, Amsayaw explained why he ultimately abandoned the fight, stating he witnessed insurgent forces committing abductions, extortion, and systemic abuses against the civilian population.

Amsayaw explained that after observing armed groups—who originally took up arms claiming to liberate the Amhara people—colluding with what he termed historical adversaries of the Amhara, he resolved to surrender alongside his comrades and relinquish his squad automatic weapon (Bren gun) to avoid being judged harshly by history.

“We have accepted the option of peace to give our community the gift of peace for the New Year,” Amsayaw said. He urged that winning through political dialogue and ideas must take precedence over forcing answers through violence, adding that he will actively work to convince remaining fighters to abandon armed conflict.

Shiferaw Kiros, deputy head of the Debark District Peace and Security Office, stated that peace initiatives succeeded by mobilizing traditional community structures, including village elders, peace councils, and “peace mothers”—respected local women who advocate for conflict mediation.

Through this coordinated grassroots engagement, combatants were brought to recognize the devastating impact of conflict and the tangible value of peace, leading a significant number of fighters to surrender in recent months.

Shiferaw added that former combatants are now actively counseling their peers remaining in the forest to return to civilian life, noting that the ongoing conflict continues to inflict severe social and economic damage across local communities.

The district administration is currently facilitating demobilization and rehabilitation programs, providing transitional training to re-integrate former fighters into society. While community outreach remains focused on peaceful resolution, Shiferaw emphasized that law enforcement operations against armed groups who refuse the peace offer will continue.

Meanwhile, Ethiopia’s Minister of Peace, Mohamed Idris, stressed the urgency of reconciliation, remarking in a recent media appearance that “we only truly recognize the value of peace when we lose it—much like our health.” He commended the public for prioritizing peace and cooperating with authorities to establish stability.

Mohamed appealed for collective action so that the upcoming New Year allows students to safely return to school, farmers to harvest their crops without disruption, merchants to trade freely, and citizens to move without fear.

Asserting that “Ethiopia’s light is emerging” despite enduring hardship, the Minister emphasized that consolidating peace, dismantling hate speech, confronting instigators of division, and prioritizing forgiveness over historical grievances remain the primary duties for all citizens in the year ahead.