
Addis Abeba– Civil servants in Quarit district, West Gojjam Zone, Amhara region, reported not receiving salaries for three months, citing a “collapse of local administration” as the cause, which they say has left them in dire conditions.
One civil servant, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the district is now “under Fano fighters’ control,” following recurrent clashes between government security forces and Fano fighters. “The local administration has now collapsed,” he said, adding, “I haven’t been paid my salary for the past three months.”
“It’s been three months since we received our salary. We’ve been struggling since the beginning of this year. We can’t even afford daily meals and have had to rely on relatives. We’ve reached our breaking point,” the civil servant explained.
He also mentioned hearing about similar problems in other districts of the West Gojjam Zone, including Sekela, Dega Damot, and Shindi, but noted, “I’ve heard that the suspended salaries in these areas have now been resumed.”
Another health professional in Quarit district, who also requested anonymity, stated that he has not received his salary since October 2024. He attributed the delay to the “absence of a local administrative structure” in the district. Detailing the impact of the suspension, he said, “We’re even worried about our daily meals.”
The health professional added that he had heard announcements in Finote Selam, the capital of West Gojjam Zone, instructing government employees from neighboring districts to travel there, sign for, and collect their salaries.
However, he explained that the security situation has made it impossible for him and others to travel to Finote Selam. “The situation is so dangerous that our only option is to give up and stay put, as it’s risky not just for collecting salaries but for our lives,” he said.
The Amhara region has been embroiled in a militarized conflict between government forces and non-state Fano militias, which has led to civilian deaths, widespread school closures, and significant disruptions to aid delivery.
A recent report by European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid Operations (ECHO) similarly highlighted that access restrictions by “local militia” in Bugna and Lasta districts, North Wollo Zone, have intensified a humanitarian crisis affecting 77,000 people, including 10,000 displaced. It stated, “Telecommunications and banking systems are not functional, and government structures have been absent for three months.” AS