Several armed groups operating across Ethiopia have announced a new coalition aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government from power.
The alliance, known as the Alliance for Survival, comprises the Fano militia from Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and four other smaller organisations.
The seven factions accuse the administration of worsening conflict, poverty and destruction, warning that the country faces the possibility of breaking apart.
Ethiopia has experienced prolonged violence in the Oromia and Amhara regions, while tensions have also resurfaced in Tigray following a devastating two-year war that ended with an African Union-backed peace agreement in 2022.
The conflict reportedly killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions.
However, concerns over a renewed confrontation remain, with the opposing sides accusing one another of breaching the peace accord.
The coalition also includes organisations operating in Somali, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz, meaning its members have a presence across six of Ethiopia’s 12 regional states.
Some of the factions have previously been involved in hostilities against one another, but they now say they have set aside their differences to confront the federal administration.
Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge, spokesperson for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), said the Ethiopian government had failed to honour a 2018 agreement intended to resolve conflict in the Somali region.
He accused Abiy’s Prosperity Party of obstructing the interests of communities and contributing to continued violence and loss of life.
Addaani said the coalition seeks to unite communities that have historically been divided, while promoting democracy, self-determination and greater local control.
Fano previously supported federal troops during the Tigray conflict but later launched an insurgency against Addis Ababa after rejecting demands to surrender its weapons.
Meanwhile, the OLA has been engaged in an armed struggle with government forces since 2018.
The latest development follows reports of alleged cooperation between the TPLF and neighbouring Eritrea.
Abiy has dismissed concerns about threats to Ethiopia’s territorial integrity, telling lawmakers in July that he remained confident in the country’s ability to defend itself.
Ethiopia held parliamentary elections in June, with Abiy’s Prosperity Party maintaining a commanding majority.
The vote, however, took place amid continuing insecurity, allegations of political repression and limited opposition participation.
Fano and the OLA rejected the election and its outcome, while the Tigray region, home to approximately six million people, did not participate in the exercise.
By: Magdalene Agyeiwaa Sarpong