"Drivers are facing harassment in various ways; there are road problems; anyone can beat a driver as they please; those claiming to be 'security' are actually militias doing the harassment" – Ethiopian Heavy Truck Drivers Association

The Ethiopian Heavy Truck Drivers Association told Tikvah Ethiopia that in the Amhara region, roadblocks and road safety conditions are more problematic than in other areas.

According to one of the association's leaders, they have been in communication with officials related to checkpoints, traffic, and parking. They noted that in Oromia, the incidents have decreased to some extent, but in the Amhara region, the situation is "beyond our control; we don’t even know whom to address it to."

They said that many drivers call the association regularly to report about roadblocks. For example, in the Gondar area, truck drivers carrying fertilizers and fuel could not move freely unless under convoy protection.

They also mentioned that this week, in the Dejen area, many drivers were stopped with the order "do not pass." Even when the road was said to be open, accidents occurred. "The situation in the Amhara region is beyond our capacity; until the security problem there is resolved, the issue will not be settled," they said.

The leader explained that the reduction of such incidents in Oromia was due to both the association’s efforts and government interest, but noted, "It has decreased, but our drivers still face danger; now the situation is very alarming. Drivers are being harassed in different ways; there are road problems; anyone can beat a driver as they please; those claiming to be 'security' are actually militias doing the harassment."

This week, drivers on the Dire Dawa route were reportedly attacked: "Two tires of the truck were shot, one driver was beaten, and both were abducted. This happened even though there was a Federal Police station close by," one driver who escaped a roadblock said.

"We advise our drivers not to travel at night. Since there are security problems in various areas, drivers who carry heavy loads for the country’s economy must move with caution," they said.

"As a community and as a government, we want preventive protection to be provided. In places where there are known risks, monitoring should be done with caution and attention," they added.

"If drivers decide to stop working, we cannot control it. This is our concern as an association. Once work is stopped, it is difficult to resume. Also, since there are many employers of drivers, it becomes hard to coordinate them. If they all park their trucks at once, the situation will be severe," they warned.

According to weekly updates from Drivers' News, a trusted source that tracks the situation daily, over 14 drivers have been attacked in different areas—including the Amhara region—within the past month.

Tikvah Ethiopia requested the Ethiopian Heavy Truck Drivers Association to prepare a report on how many of the abducted drivers have been released, how many remain captive, and how many have been killed. The association responded that this is one of the challenging issues because collecting such information is difficult.

They explained that after drivers are abducted, it’s hard to get information about their release since captors often take their contact details, and for fear of further attacks, released drivers rarely provide details. "Therefore, collecting such data is a challenge," they said.

They emphasized that places where roadblocks and killings occur should be provided with strict government protection. Due to concerns that local district security forces might be collaborating with attackers, these forces should also be monitored. In addition, drivers should avoid driving after 10:00 p.m., which they suggested as part of the solution.