Ethiopian Champion’s London Marathon Victory Shadows Amhara Crisis
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By Special Correspondent
April 27, 2025
In a moment of national pride tinged with profound controversy, Ethiopia’s Tigst Assefa shattered the women’s-only marathon world record in London yesterday, even as members of the Ethiopian diaspora used the globally televised event to spotlight what they describe as ongoing atrocities in the Amhara region.
Assefa, 28, claimed victory with a remarkable time of 2:15:50, breaking away from Kenya’s Joyciline Jepkosgei in the final stretch along the Thames. Her historic achievement, however, unfolded against a backdrop of coordinated activism by “London Fano” protesters, who strategically positioned themselves throughout the course to draw international attention to recent violence in Ethiopia’s Amhara region.
“While we celebrate Tigst’s extraordinary achievement as a testament to Ethiopian excellence, we cannot remain silent about the suffering of our people,” said a representative of London Fano, who distributed information packets to international media detailing an alleged drone strike on April 18 in Enarj Enawuga, West Gojjam Zone, that reportedly claimed over 120 civilian lives.
The protesters, many wearing traditional Ethiopian garments modified with emblems of resistance, displayed banners reading “Stop Arming Abiye Ahmed self crowned king of Oromuma!” and “Justice for Gojam” at key points along the 42-kilometer route. Their dual message supporting Ethiopia’s athletic prowess while condemning government actions created a complex narrative that dominated social media coverage of the event.
Human rights observers cited by the protesters claim the Enarj Enawuga incident represents one of the deadliest single attacks in the ongoing Amhara conflict. The Ethiopian Tribune has not independently verified casualty figures, which range from 120 to 140 according to various sources. The drones allegedly used in the attack are believed to be of Turkish origin, according to conflict analysts familiar with military hardware in the region.
The Ethiopian government has previously characterised operations in Amhara as necessary security measures against armed insurgents, while denying allegations of indiscriminate civilian targeting. Ministry of Foreign Affairs representatives contacted by this publication had not responded to requests for comment at press time.
For Assefa, the victory marks another milestone in her remarkable career. When approached about the protests, she focused on her athletic achievement, stating: “Today belongs to all Ethiopians who believe in pushing beyond what seems possible.”
The London Marathon has increasingly become a platform for humanitarian advocacy, with this year’s event featuring over 45,000 participants representing various causes. London Fano’s strategy of integrating their message with support for Ethiopia’s athletes appears to have successfully amplified both narratives, with international press coverage noting the juxtaposition of athletic celebration and grave humanitarian concerns.
Analysts from the Global Ethiopian Diaspora Council suggest this intersection of sport and activism represents a new front in diaspora advocacy efforts. Their recent report recommends establishing partnerships with international human rights organisations to document and verify incidents in conflict zones, particularly as traditional media access remains restricted in parts of Amhara region.
As Ethiopia navigates these complex dynamics, the international spotlight cast by both Assefa’s world-record performance and the London Fano protests underscores the nation’s continuing struggle to reconcile its global athletic prominence with unresolved internal conflicts.
The Ethiopian Tribune remains committed to balanced reporting on developments affecting all Ethiopian communities.
