Field Marshal Birhanu Jula, the chief of general staff of the Ethiopian National Defense Force, has warned that a new alliance of armed and political groups could deepen the country's security crisis. Speaking through the Ethiopian Army's media outlet, Birhanu accused foreign powers of funding, supplying and directing forces opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. He claimed that Ethiopia's adversaries had changed their approach, turning to financial support and intelligence operations to fuel internal conflict and interfere with the country's development.
The new alliance, called the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival, brings together seven Ethiopian armed and political groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Amhara Fano National Movement, and Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). The groups have stated that they want to remove Abiy's government and put in place an inclusive transitional government. Birhanu described the alliance as "Tsimdo" and claimed that it was not an entirely new force but a return of an earlier political and military arrangement under a different name and structure.
Birhanu singled out Eritrea, referring to it as "Shaebia", and alleged that it serves as a channel between foreign powers and armed groups operating in Ethiopia. He claimed that Eritrea, along with Sudan, Egypt, and other powers, was providing support to the TPLF and other groups. Eritrea has denied previous accusations from the Ethiopian government and military that it supports armed groups inside Ethiopia. Birhanu's comments come at a time when fighting has resumed in northern Ethiopia, with tensions between Tigrayan forces and federal and allied forces increasing in recent days.
The army chief drew parallels between the present alliance and the network of political and armed groups that existed before the fall of the Derg government in 1991. According to Birhanu, the TPLF historically relied on partnerships with other groups to increase its military and political strength. He said the organisation was now seeking fresh alliances in Amhara and Oromia because it could not operate effectively on its own. Birhanu described the latest coalition as an attempt to rebuild the kind of political and military structure associated with the former Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF).
Birhanu claimed that the TPLF had been weakened both politically and militarily and warned that further attempts to provoke conflict could lead to severe consequences for Tigray. He said the federal government was deliberately holding back because another major conflict would have serious consequences for civilians in Tigray, which was already devastated by the 2020-2022 war. The ENDF chief also outlined the military's efforts since the 2018 political transition, saying the government had combined security operations with a programme to modernise the armed forces.
Birhanu said the objective of the military's efforts was to develop a force capable of dealing with conventional and unconventional threats while reducing dependence on foreign weapons and military equipment. He said Ethiopia had also increased domestic defence production and upgraded its Air Force. The military has further invested in digital capabilities covering reconnaissance, targeting and intelligence, according to Birhanu. The latest developments come as Ethiopia deals with insecurity in Tigray, Amhara and Oromia, alongside tensions with Eritrea and the wider region.
The accusations and warnings from Birhanu come as the country faces multiple security challenges. The formation of the new alliance has added a national political and military dimension to the latest tensions, bringing together groups from different parts of Ethiopia. The situation remains volatile, with the potential for further conflict and instability in the region.
Key points
- Field Marshal Birhanu Jula warns of a new alliance of armed and political groups in Ethiopia.
- The alliance, comprising seven groups, aims to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
- Birhanu accuses foreign powers, including Eritrea, Sudan, and Egypt, of supporting the alliance.
