Fano forces captured 95% of Ethiopia's South Gondar Zone, including the district towns of Nefas Mewcha and Este Mekane Yesus, between 8:45 PM and 11:45 PM UTC on February 9, 2026. Numerous Prosperity Party soldiers were killed or wounded, according to a breaking news report from WOTATUAMARA on X. The advance marks a major territorial gain for Fano fighters in the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region. The report, posted at approximately 10:30 PM UTC within the three-hour window, detailed the complete fall of the two towns to Fano control. In related regional developments, Somalia's Ministry of Foreign Affairs welcomed Sudan's return to full participation in the IGAD secretariat, commending Djibouti President Ismail Oguelleh's diplomacy, as stated in an X post during the reporting period. Eritrea's Ministry of Information issued a press release from Asmara on February 9, 2026, denouncing "patently false and fabricated accusations" by Ethiopia's Foreign Minister from the previous day as serving ulterior agendas. Separately, Al-Shabaab official Mohamed Sahal Idle from the Juba regions was killed in an attack, according to a report from Dhacdo.net shared on X by W Dhacdo within the window.
