Addis Ababa: Seven Ethiopian armed and opposition groups have formed a new alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government, bringing together former enemies from the country's Tigray war and groups involved in conflicts in several other regions.
The groups announced the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival on Sunday. They said they would work together to remove the federal government and establish an inclusive transitional administration.
The alliance includes the Tigray People's Liberation Front, the Amhara Fano National Movement and the Oromo Liberation Army. It also includes the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Peoples' Liberation Movement and the Gumuz Peoples' Democratic Movement.
The groups represent several parts of Ethiopia, including Tigray, Amhara, Oromia, the Somali region, Afar and Benishangul Gumuz. Their announcement marks a significant development in Ethiopia's continuing political and security crisis.
The alliance is particularly notable because the TPLF and Fano fought on opposite sides during the 2020 to 2022 Tigray war. Fano forces supported the federal government during that conflict before later turning against Abiy's government.
The Tigray war ended with a peace agreement signed in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022. The agreement brought an end to large scale fighting between the federal government and Tigrayan forces and established a process for ending the conflict.
That peace process has come under increasing strain this year.
In May, the TPLF reasserted control over Tigray's political administration after accusing the federal government of failing to uphold the peace agreement. Fighting and military tensions have since increased in and around the region.
TPLF spokesman Michael Asgedom said the group's cooperation with the other forces was both political and military. He said joint military operations could become necessary to achieve the alliance's objective of removing the government.
Asgedom also said the 2022 peace agreement was no longer valid.
The alliance follows more than a year of discussions between several of the groups. TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa said the groups had been working towards cooperation for more than a year. He said Fano leader Zemene Kassie would chair the alliance.
The groups have accused the federal government of presiding over insecurity, armed conflict, displacement, poverty and human rights abuses.
The federal government did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the alliance. Last month, however, an adviser to Abiy said a possible coalition of armed groups would create disruption but would not be capable of overthrowing the federal government.
The Ethiopian government is already facing armed conflicts in several parts of the country.
In Amhara, Fano has been fighting federal forces since 2023 after opposing government efforts to disarm regional armed groups. The conflict has killed thousands of people.
In Oromia, the Oromo Liberation Army has fought the federal government since 2018. The Ethiopian government has designated the organisation as a terrorist group.
The situation in Tigray has also become increasingly tense. The Ethiopian military said on September 18 that nearly 300 TPLF fighters had surrendered to its forces. The claim has not been independently verified.
The African Union has reported that the federal government and the TPLF have massed troops along the border of Tigray in recent months, adding to concerns about renewed fighting.
The new alliance also brings together groups with different political interests and unresolved territorial disputes. One of the most sensitive issues concerns Western Tigray, which is claimed by both Tigrayan and Amhara actors.
However, it remains unclear how closely the seven organisations will cooperate militarily or whether they can establish a unified command.
It is also unclear how the proposed transitional government would be organised and how the different groups would resolve their competing political and territorial demands.
The alliance was announced through Tigray TV. The Ethiopian Media Authority described the broadcaster as an illegal entity and accused it of promoting insurgency.
The Ethiopian government has accused neighbouring Eritrea of supporting insurgent groups inside Ethiopia, including the TPLF and Fano. Eritrea has denied the allegations.
International concern over renewed conflict in Ethiopia has also increased, with the United Nations and other international partners calling for restraint, dialogue and implementation of the 2022 peace agreement.
The formation of the alliance does not by itself establish that a new nationwide war has begun. Its military strength, level of coordination and ability to operate as a unified force remain unclear.
For now, the alliance brings together several armed groups from across Ethiopia, including former enemies that fought on opposite sides during the Tigray war. Its development could add another layer to Ethiopia's already complex security and political crisis.