Ethiopian armed groups form alliance to oust government

Seven armed groups in Ethiopia have formed an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

The “Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival” includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Amhara Fano National Movement, which fought on opposite sides during the 2020–2022 civil war. The alliance brings together groups from different regions of the country. However, disagreements reportedly remain among its members over territorial and other issues.

The alliance’s objective

A statement read by Fano leader Zemena Kassin and broadcast by Tigrai TV said alliance members had “a historic responsibility to overthrow this regime.”

The groups accuse the government of centralizing power and politically marginalizing the regions. The government, meanwhile, says it has launched a national dialogue to resolve political divisions and internal conflicts.

Allegations involving Eritrea

Prime Minister’s spokesperson Billene Seyoum said the groups were cooperating with financial support from neighboring Eritrea. Eritrea has repeatedly denied such allegations in the past.

“The latest statement confirms the allegations repeatedly made by the Ethiopian government,” Seyoum said.

Fano fought alongside the federal government against the TPLF during the Tigray war from 2020 to 2022. The conflict, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of thousands of people, was accompanied by incidents of ethnically motivated violence. Fano later launched an armed campaign against the federal government in the Amhara region. Thousands of people have reportedly been killed in the region since 2023.

Questions remain over the alliance’s strength

Groups from the Oromia, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz regions have also joined the alliance. The move comes as reports emerge of renewed clashes between federal and Tigray forces.

In May, the TPLF regained control over Tigray’s political administration. The move was viewed as a violation of the 2022 peace agreement. The TPLF accused the federal government of failing to implement the terms of the accord.

Ethiopia’s media regulator, meanwhile, banned news organizations on Monday from using Tigrai TV as a source.