Abstract:
Ongoing community insecurity in Ethiopia has become a complex and interconnected issue,
particularly affecting the Amhara community. The main objective of this study was to investigate
the major causes, actors, impacts, and potential solutions to the insecurity faced by the Amhara
community in the Metekel zone Benishangul Gumuz regional state. The study was guided by
three research questions to assess the major causes, actors, and consequences of the Amhara
community security problems in the Metekel zone. To achieve the main objective, the study
employed a qualitative research approach with a case study research design through dealing
with highly relied-on primary and secondary sources of data. The study used different tools
during data gathering including interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis, and
personal observation. The study used a purposive sampling technique; a type of non-probability
sampling was used in selecting the research participants for interviews and FGD. The data
obtained from both primary and secondary sources were analyzed through the use of thematic
analysis. The finding of the study analyzed data revealed that the main causes of insecurity of the
Amhara community in the Metekel zone are ethnic federalism, exclusion of political structure of
Benishangul Gumuz regional state constitution (political exclusion), anti-Amhara narrative, lack
of independent governmental institution, external influence and culture of Gumuz society are the
major existential threat the Amhara community security in the study area. The finding of the
study has two major actors of insecurity of the Amhara community in the study area such as
internal and external. Internal actors included Gumuz rebel armed groups, Gumuz authorities,
TPLF, and OLF, while external actors included Sudan and Egypt. The finding of the study also
revealed the political, social, economic, and psychological effects of insecurity on the Amhara
community in the Metekel zone. Finally, the researcher suggested that constitutional revision and
restructuring of the federal and regional arrangements could help protect the rights and security
of the Amhara people in the Metekel zone.