The term Fano is not of recent origin. Rather, it is rooted in the social history of Amhara, as it historically refers to various connotations.

In its contemporary incarnation, Fano represented the youth counterpart of the Oromo Kairo movement that led the popular movement against the rule of the Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. Fano groups actively participated in confronting the Tigray People's Liberation Front. The danger of the Fano rebellion increases given its emergence in a context of increasing crises surrounding the Ethiopian government.