Seven Ethiopian Armed Groups Form Coalition to Challenge Federal Rule
Former enemies unite in a new alliance targeting the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, escalating regional tensions.
Key points
- Seven armed groups from different Ethiopian regions have formed a coalition to challenge the federal government.
- The alliance unites former adversaries, including the TPLF and Fano, who previously fought on opposite sides of the Tigray war.
- Ethiopia's government claims it is pursuing dialogue, while the coalition accuses it of centralizing power and ignoring regional rights.
Seven armed factions across Ethiopia have declared the formation of a united front aimed at overthrowing the federal government. The coalition, known as the Ethiopian People’s Alliance for Survival Forces, brings together groups from the Tigray, Oromia, Afar, Benishangul-Gumuz, and Somali regions, as reported by UA.NEWS.
The announcement marks a significant shift in the country’s internal dynamics, uniting former adversaries under a common political objective. While the alliance includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front and the Amhara Fano National Movement, these groups have previously held conflicting territorial and political interests.
Former adversaries join forces
The inclusion of Fano, an Amhara-based coalition, is particularly notable given its prior alignment with federal forces during the 2020–2022 Tigray war. According to the source, that conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of casualties and widespread ethnic violence. Since 2023, Fano has engaged in sustained clashes with federal authorities in the Amhara region.
Political disputes drive the alliance
Coalition members allege that the central government is consolidating power and marginalizing regional autonomy. In response, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration asserts that it is facilitating a nationwide dialogue to address longstanding political grievances and internal conflicts. Fano leader Zemene Kassie read a statement declaring the group's intent to replace the current regime.
A senior adviser to the Prime Minister recently noted that while such alliances seek to destabilize the political landscape, they lack the capacity to remove the federal government. This stance underscores the government's confidence in its institutional resilience despite the growing military coordination among opposition groups.
Regional instability intensifies
The formation of this alliance coincides with renewed tensions in Tigray, where the TPLF regained control of the region's administrative structures in May. This move contradicts the 2022 peace agreement that ended the previous war, with the TPLF citing the federal government's failure to implement key terms of the accord.
Data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project indicates that Ethiopian forces have conducted drone strikes on Tigrayan positions in recent months. Although the federal government has not commented on these reports, the military stated last week that nearly 300 Tigrayan fighters had surrendered, signaling ongoing military pressure in the region.
