Seven armed groups in Ethiopia, including former enemies from the country’s 2020-2022 civil war, have announced a new alliance seeking to overthrow Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

The coalition, named the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, brings together groups from several parts of Ethiopia. Its members include organisations from Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, Afar, Somali Region and Benishangul-Gumuz. The announcement comes as tensions between the federal government and several regional armed groups remain high. 

TPLF And Fano Join Forces

One of the most notable aspects of the new alliance is the presence of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Amhara Fano National Movement.

The two groups were on opposing sides during the Tigray war between 2020 and 2022. Fano forces fought alongside Ethiopia’s federal government against the TPLF during that conflict, which resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and was accompanied by reports of ethnically driven atrocities. 

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Fano later became involved in an armed conflict with the federal government in Amhara. That fighting has continued since 2023 and has resulted in thousands of deaths. 

The new grouping therefore brings together organisations that have previously been in direct conflict with one another, while some members continue to have disputes over territory and other issues.

Alliance Says It Wants To Overthrow Government

The alliance announced its formation late on Sunday. Its statement accused the federal government of concentrating power and marginalising Ethiopia’s regions.

The statement was read by Fano leader Zemene Kassie and broadcast on Tigrayan television.

“We, the peoples’ forces concerned with the survival of Ethiopia’s peoples, bear the historic responsibility of overthrowing this regime,” the statement said.

The Ethiopian government had not immediately responded to requests for comment when Reuters reported the announcement. Last month, an adviser to Abiy said a possible armed coalition would seek to cause disruption but would not be capable of removing the federal government.

The government has also said it is pursuing a national dialogue aimed at addressing long-running political divisions and internal conflicts.

Tensions Rise In Tigray

The formation of the alliance comes after renewed tensions between federal forces and the TPLF.

In May, the TPLF reasserted control over Tigray’s political administration. The move was described as a violation of the 2022 peace agreement by Reuters and followed accusations from the TPLF that the federal government had failed to implement the deal fully.

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The Ethiopian military has also carried out several reported drone strikes against Tigrayan forces in recent months, according to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project.

The federal government has not commented on those reported strikes. However, Ethiopia’s military said last week that nearly 300 Tigrayan fighters had surrendered.

Ethiopia And Eritrea Dispute

Ethiopia has also accused neighbouring Eritrea of backing insurgent groups, including the TPLF and Fano. Eritrea has rejected those allegations.

The new Alliance for Survival now adds another layer to Ethiopia’s complicated security situation, bringing together armed groups from different regions and backgrounds. While the groups have declared a common objective, Reuters noted that some members remain divided over territorial and other disputes. 

FAQs

Which groups joined the Ethiopian alliance?

The alliance includes the TPLF, Amhara Fano National Movement and groups from Oromia, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz.

Why did the groups ally?

The groups accuse Abiy Ahmed’s government of centralising power and marginalising Ethiopia’s regions.