|
People sit at a bar ahead of the celebrations of Gena, the Ethiopian Orthodox Christmas, in Lalibela on January 7, 2024. The Ethiopian Christmas celebrations -also called “Gena” in Amharic – haven't halt this year in Lalibela despite the unrest and clashes experienced for months in Ethiopia's second most populous region between the Ethiopian Defense Forces and the ethnic Amhara militia known as “Fano”. Only two months prior to the Orthodox Christmas, the Ethiopian Defense Forces regained control of the town, an UNESCO World Heritage site renowned for its centuries-old rock-hewn churches. Although “Fano” fighters fought alongside federal troops in the past, tensions boiled over after Addis Ababa announced in April 2023 that it was dismantling all regional forces across Ethiopia. (Photo by Michele Spatari/AFP Photo)
|
