Moral judgments about war are among the most consequential determinations scholars and societies make. They shape legitimacy, responsibility, and the boundaries of acceptable political action. In Ethiopia today, the armed struggle involving Fano in the Amhara region has increasingly been subjected to such judgments, often rendered with striking certainty. This essay offers a reflective moral evaluation of that struggle through the lens of Just War Theory, not to deliver a definitive verdict, but to deepen and discipline the debate. This essay was prompted by a recent interview on Andemta Media with Dr. Dagnachew Assefa, in which he concluded that Fano’s armed struggle does not meet the criteria of Just War Theory. His remarks have contributed to ongoing public debate about the moral evaluation of the conflict. This essay engages the broader ethical question he raised, rather than any single conclusion, by offering an independent moral reflection grounded in historical context and ethical reasoning.
