Seven armed opposition factions in Ethiopia have officially formed a new coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival, with the shared objective of removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his administration from power. The coalition brings together regional rebel movements, including the Amhara Fano National Movement, the Oromo Liberation Army, and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), along with four other regional organizations. This new grouping spans half of Ethiopia's twelve regional states.
The coalition accuses Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government of presiding over war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty. Leaders of the alliance claim that current federal policies place the entire country at risk of disintegration. Ethiopia operates under a system of ethnic federalism, designed to grant autonomy to dominant language and cultural groups, dividing the nation into twelve regional states. However, this structure frequently generates severe social and political friction among over eighty ethnic communities.
Prolonged armed conflicts have previously destabilized Oromia and Amhara, the most populous states in the country. Northern Tigray experienced a devastating two-year civil war that resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread displacement. Although an African Union peace deal formally ended that conflict in 2022, fragile conditions persist across the region. The new coalition aims to address these issues and promote democracy and self-determination for all communities.
Several groups within the new coalition previously fought against one another during past regional conflicts. Amhara's Fano militia fought alongside federal troops against the TPLF during the Tigray war but turned against federal authorities less than a year after the 2022 peace accord. Federal forces have continuously engaged the Oromia Liberation Army in combat since 2018. Spokesmen for the alliance emphasize that former adversaries will now cooperate against a common opponent.
Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge, speaking for the Ogaden National Liberation Front, stated that the federal government failed to respect a 2018 peace deal in the Somali region. Addaani accused Abiy's Prosperity Party of acting as an obstacle to the people and unleashing widespread violence. He explained that the coalition's objective is for communities to have democracy and to exercise their right to self-determination, to genuinely govern themselves.
Coalition representatives confirm that their cooperation involves both political coordination and tactical military planning. Michael Asgedom, a TPLF spokesman, stated that joint military operations may become necessary to achieve the objective of removing the current government. The alliance's military strategy and regional reactions will be crucial in determining the outcome of this new coalition.
The formation of the Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival marks a significant development in Ethiopia's complex and volatile politics. The coalition's success will depend on its ability to unite former adversaries and effectively challenge the current government. The international community will be watching closely as this situation unfolds, with potential implications for regional stability and global security.
Key points
- The new coalition aims to promote democracy and self-determination for all communities in Ethiopia.
- The coalition's formation marks a significant development in Ethiopia's complex and volatile politics.
- The alliance's military strategy and regional reactions will be crucial in determining the outcome of this new coalition.
