Ethiopia's Council of Ministers has declared a state of emergency after fighting between regular troops and local militias widened in the Amhara region, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's office said in a statement.
According to the statement, the decision was motivated by the "damage" caused to the political, economic and social activities of the region by "attacks carried out by armed extremist groups."
"It was found necessary to declare a state of emergency as it became difficult to control this unrestrained activity based on the regular legal system," the statement read.
The authorities added that the government has repeatedly called on the militias to implement peace, yet "the threat to national security and public peace is increasing day by day."
A day earlier, the government of the Amhara region requested help from central authorities to resolve violent clashes between security forces and militias.
The clashes in Amhara came amid attempts by federal authorities to disarm local militias to take control of security in the region.
Amhara militia units fought alongside government troops against Tigray rebels who mutinied against the federal government in November 2020 but signed a peace deal with it two years later and laid down arms.
Ethiopian Airlines has likewise suspended flights to cities in the Lalibela and Gondar regions in view of current events, French media reported.