The study examined crisis communication practices in the Amhara region communication bureau, focused on the Fano and government conflict. Political and security tensions in the Amhara region have escalated significantly since the conflict between the federal government of Ethiopia and the Fano militia began in 2023. The study explores how the Amhara Communication Bureau communicates the conflict between Fano militants and government forces. The study employed a qualitative research approach, including interviews and content analysis, to gather in-depth data on crisis communication practices, using a case study design to generate detailed insight into the bureau's communication practices. The research is guided by Situational Crisis Communication Theory (SCCT) as its theoretical framework. The study findings reveal that the Amhara Region Communication Bureau functioned as an instrument of the government, communicating official narratives during the conflict. The bureau primarily conveyed the government's propaganda through a one-way communication system and served as the government's mouthpiece. The study findings indicate that the bureau had a passive role and lacked a well-defined crisis communication strategy. These findings contrast with the principles of public relations roles during crises. The bureau targeted different audience segments, including elite and ordinary citizens, during crises. The institution's social media platforms to reach diaspora and elite audiences through a counterpropaganda communication system, while maintaining strong ties with mainstream government media to inform and reach local citizens. The study identified several institutional challenges during the Amhara region conflict, notably the declaration of a state of emergency, poor organizational coordination, a lack of clearly defined job descriptions, and varying staff perceptions of the crisis. The study concludes that communication institutions in Ethiopia have a problem with their communication strategies in times of crisis. The study will provide practical information about crisis communication strategies for institutions in a crisis. On the other hand, academically, it will enrich crisis communication literature and serve as a reference for future research