Zemene Kassie

Right after completing his studies at Haramaya, he joined the then-ruling party, EPRDF, and held various government positions both as a professional and a leader. His sensational oratory skills and academic achievements quickly set him apart, which led the party to name him as President of Amhara Region Youth League.^[5] Citing the injustices faced by the Amhara people under the authoritarian rule of the EPRDF government, Zemene moved to Eritrea in 2013 to join the Ginbot 7 party.^[6] There, he became one of the main coordinators of the armed struggle against the EPRDF regime, alongside Andargachew Tsege and Berhanu Nega.

After Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power in 2018, Zemene returned to Ethiopia and was offered a cabinet position by the Amhara Region administration. He declined the offer, stating that he would not be able to make a meaningful impact from within the government. Instead, he focused on mobilizing Amhara youth through popular, fiery and often critical speeches that emphasized Amhara nationalism. As chairman of the Amhara Youth Association, he worked to unite the youth under a single organization, a move that was met with resistance from Abiy Ahmed and Oromo factions within the ruling Prosperity Party. Despite this opposition, Zemene continued to serve as an informal advisor to the Amhara Region Peace and Security Bureau under Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige, focusing on regional youth and security matters. In addition to Abiy Ahmed's alleged conspiracy and willful negligence in stopping Amhara massacre in Oromia, Asaminew Tsige's resistance to arresting Zemene and other Amhara nationalist allies became one of the key points of contention between Asaminew and Abiy Ahmed, which ultimately culminated in the Amhara Region alleged "coup attempt" and the assassination of Amhara president Ambachew Mekonnen, Brigadier General Asaminew Tsige, General Seare Mekonnen, and other prominent political and military leaders on June 22, 2019. Zemene went into hiding following the Amhara region alleged "coup" attempt.^[5] to evade window of opportunistic extrajudicial assassinations and purges that targeted opposing Amhara nationalists, orchestrated by Abiy Ahmed under the pretext of maintaining law, order, and justice in the region. Zemene was charged in absentia by the Amhara region supreme court in what his supporters described as a politically motivated "witch hunt", but he was later exonerated of all charges.

Zemene gained recognition as a military commander after the start of Tigray War in 2020, as a leading figure of the Fano militia. During the incursion of Tigrayan forces in Amhara, he established a Fano faction, Amhara Popular Force, and became its leader. As Tigrayan rebels failed to enter Gojjam, his faction engaged to counter the rebel advance in Western Wollo along with Ethiopian government forces.^[5] Zemene was once imprisoned by Bahir Dar police in allegation of killing of a police officer on 11 September 2022. Mulan Tadese, his legal mentor, confirmed that Zemene was released from Bahir Dar prison on 3 June 2023, where the verdict raised a question on absolving his release about the validity of evidence against him. Zemene was used to hiding from government authority amidst crackdowns against Fano members, who alleged that Fano would brought violence and destabilization in the region. In June 2022, Zemene commented the ongoing situation of Tigray War in an interview that "there are thousands of Fano militants presently under my control, and shortly they will shift into millions. We don’t believe the Amhara police forces or the federal army as opposing. But some individuals belong to the Fano who do."^[7]

Following the outbreak of the War in Amhara, Zemene re-emerged and aligned with the other Fano factions, including factions led by Eskinder Nega to fight the Abiy Ahmed-led Prosperity Party government. Demonstrating his strategic leadership, together with another Fano leader, Major Zinabu Lingerew, Zemene played a key role in uniting the two major Fano factions in Gojjam, including the one led by Zinabu. This effort culminated in the signing of the Dimama Declaration on 23 February 2024, which established the most unified front among the various Amhara Fano commands.

Zemene played a pivotal role in unifying over 85 percent of Amhara Fano armed groups in Ethiopia to establish the Amhara Fano National Force (AFNF), following a founding congress in Qwara-Gonder attended by leaders from Gojjam (including Asres Mare), Wollo (Bete-Amhara) (Mihretu Wodajo), Gonder (Habte Wolde and Samuel Baledil), and Shewa (Desalegn Siyaseb Shewa). The formation of the AFNF was officially announced on 9 May 2025, and Zemene now serves as a member of its 13-member central command, which includes General Tefera Mamo.^[8]

Zemene worked extensively for the formation of the Amhara Fano National Movement (AFNM). The AFNM is the unified organization of two major Fano groups: the Amhara Fano National Force and the Amhara Fano People's Organization. It was established on January 17, 2026. This organization represents the long-held aspiration of the Amhara people to struggle for freedom from the oppressions inflicted by the Tigrean People's Liberation Front and the Oromo anti-Amhara groups, including the ruling Prosperity Party, across the country. Now, the Amhara people have a single Fano organization, the AFNM, which is led by Zemene Kassie. The AFNM is viewed as a beacon of hope by many Ethiopians who are oppressed under Abiy Ahmed's regime.

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