Seven armed groups in Ethiopia, which have been fighting on different sides of the country's conflicts, have announced the formation of an alliance aimed at ousting Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and establishing a transitional government. The alliance, called the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival, brings together groups operating in different parts of Ethiopia, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), Fano National Movement of Amhara, Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, Benishangul Peoples' Liberation Movement, and Gumuz Peoples' Democratic Movement.
The formation of the alliance was announced on September 21, 2026, by Amanuel Assefa, Vice President of the TPLF, who said that the groups have been in talks for over a year to coordinate their efforts. According to Assefa, the alliance aims to oust Abiy Ahmed's government and establish a transitional government. Zemene Kasse, leader of the Fano National Movement of Amhara, has been appointed as the chairman of the alliance.
The alliance is significant because it brings together groups that have previously been enemies. During the Tigray conflict from 2020 to 2022, Fano forces from Amhara fought alongside Ethiopian government forces against Tigray forces. However, after the conflict, Fano turned against the Addis Ababa government. There are also land disputes, particularly in Western Tigray, which is controlled by different politicians and groups.
Amanuel Assefa said that these issues can be discussed later, adding that the groups will work together to address them peacefully. Ethiopia has been experiencing violence, particularly in the Oromia and Amhara regions, which are the most populous regions in the country. Government forces have been fighting the OLA in Oromia since 2018, and the OLA has been designated as a terrorist group by the Ethiopian government.
Fano began fighting the government in April 2023, after the government started a program to disarm militia groups in Amhara. There are concerns that the conflict between the government and Tigray forces could escalate. The African Union has reported that government forces and Tigray forces have been mobilizing troops near the Tigray border.
The impact of the alliance on the country's stability remains to be seen. Analysts have different views on the alliance's ability to achieve its goals. Kjetil Tronvoll, an expert on the region and professor at Oslo New University College in Norway, said that it is unclear whether the seven groups can sustain a fight against the government, which has the capability to use drones.
The Ethiopian government has not yet commented on the formation of the alliance. The announcement comes as Ethiopia continues to face various security challenges, including territorial disputes and conflicts between government forces and armed groups. However, the alliance's formation does not necessarily mean that the groups have established a unified command structure or resolved their differences.
Key points
- The alliance brings together seven armed groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front, to oust Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and establish a transitional government.
- The groups have been in talks for over a year to coordinate their efforts, and Zemene Kasse, leader of the Fano National Movement of Amhara, has been appointed as the chairman of the alliance.
- The alliance's ability to achieve its goals is uncertain, with analysts questioning whether the groups can sustain a fight against the government.
