Federal government negotiators and representatives of Amhara regional forces met for a third consecutive week in a location that both sides have agreed to keep confidential, according to two diplomatic sources briefed on the talks. The discussions, facilitated by a team from the African Union’s Panel of the Wise, have focused on a framework for de-escalation in western Gondar and northern Shewa zones, where fighting has intensified since late 2025.
The talks have produced agreement on humanitarian corridor access in three districts, but the core political questions—including the status of regional administrative boundaries and the composition of transitional security forces—remain unresolved, the sources said.
Commercial satellite imagery acquired on February 12 and reviewed by The Horn Dispatch shows new earthwork fortifications along the Gondar-Metema corridor, suggesting that ground forces are preparing for a protracted standoff regardless of the negotiation timeline.
Commercial satellite imagery (Sentinel-2, February 12, 2026) shows three new defensive positions along the Gondar-Metema corridor. Earthwork fortifications of approximately 200m length are visible at each position.
Source: Sentinel Hub / Copernicus Open Access Hub. Coordinates withheld per editorial security protocol.
“The military reality on the ground is moving faster than the diplomatic track,” said a Western diplomatic official stationed in Addis Ababa, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the negotiations publicly. “There is a window, but it is narrowing.”
The Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) did not respond to a request for comment submitted on February 13. A spokesperson for the Amhara regional administration said in a written statement that “all options for peaceful resolution remain on the table” but declined to confirm or deny participation in the talks.