ADDIS ABABA — Seven Ethiopian armed groups announced on Sunday the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, a coalition that spans the country from Tigray in the north to the Somali Region in the south. The alliance includes former adversaries, most notably the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Amhara Fano National Movement, which previously fought on opposite sides of the 2020‑2022 civil war.
Groups unite despite lingering disputes
The coalition brings together a geographically and ethnically diverse set of forces. While members share a common goal of removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, some remain at odds over territory and other issues. The alliance was broadcast on Tigrayan television, with Fano leader Zemene Kassie stating, “We, the peoples’ forces concerned with the survival of Ethiopia’s peoples, bear the historic responsibility of overthrowing this regime.”
Background of the participants
The TPLF led the rebellion in the northern Tigray region that sparked a devastating war from 2020 to 2022, resulting in hundreds of thousands of deaths and widespread atrocities. The Amhara Fano National Movement, a coalition of armed groups from the Amhara region, initially supported the federal government against the TPLF during that conflict. Since 2023, Fano has turned against the federal government, engaging in a separate insurgency that has claimed thousands of lives in Amhara.
Other members of the alliance hail from the Oromia, Afar, and Benishangul‑Gumuz regions, further broadening the coalition’s ethnic and regional representation. The groups have repeatedly accused the federal government of centralising power and marginalising regional autonomy.
Government response and ongoing conflict
Spokespeople for Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the federal government have not yet responded to requests for comment. Earlier, an adviser to the prime minister warned that any such coalition would aim to wreak havoc but would be unable to topple the federal government.
The Ethiopian government has launched a national dialogue intended to address longstanding political divisions and internal conflicts. However, recent skirmishes between federal forces and Tigrayan fighters have continued. In May, the TPLF reasserted control over Tigray’s political administration, violating the 2022 peace agreement that ended the earlier war.
According to data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project, the Ethiopian military has conducted several drone strikes against Tigrayan forces in recent months. The military reported that nearly 300 Tigrayan fighters surrendered last week.
Regional dynamics
Ethiopia has also accused its neighbour Eritrea of supporting insurgent groups, including the TPLF and Fano. Eritrea has denied these allegations.
The formation of this alliance underscores the fragile security environment in Ethiopia and raises concerns about further destabilisation across the Horn of Africa.
Original reporting: Appleton, WI News Feed (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
