Seven armed rebel movements across Ethiopia have joined forces to challenge the administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, marking a significant escalation in the country’s long-running internal conflicts. The coalition, termed the Alliance for Survival, unites the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the Amhara-based Fano militia, and four smaller factions from other regions.
In a joint declaration, the groups accused the central government in Addis Ababa of presiding over ongoing war, genocide, mass destruction, and extreme poverty. They warned that without a change in leadership, Ethiopia faces the risk of total disintegration. The BBC has contacted the Ethiopian government for a response but had not received a statement at the time of publication.
The alliance spans half of Ethiopia’s twelve regional states, incorporating groups from Somali, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz, in addition to the major populations in Oromia, Amhara, and Tigray. This geographic spread highlights the breadth of dissent against Prime Minister Abiy’s Prosperity Party.
Some of the signatories have previously been adversaries. During the recent Tigray war, Amhara’s Fano fighters allied with federal troops against the TPLF. However, Fano turned to insurgency less than a year later after refusing orders to disarm. Meanwhile, the government has been engaged in a separate military campaign against the OLA since 2018.
Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge, spokesperson for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), told the BBC that the 2018 peace agreement in the Somali region had not been respected. He characterized Abiy’s party as an obstacle to the people, alleging that it has unleashed widespread violence and ethnic oppression.
“Our objective is for the communities to have democracy and to exercise their right to self-determination, to genuinely govern themselves,” Hirmooge said, adding that the coalition aims to heal divisions between ethnic groups.
The formation of this alliance follows previous reports of a covert partnership between the TPLF and neighboring Eritrea. In July, Prime Minister Abiy expressed confidence in Ethiopia’s defensive capabilities, stating he had “no iota of fear” regarding the nation’s sovereignty.
Tensions remain high in the Tigray region, where a two-year civil war ended in 2022 with an African Union-brokered peace deal. That conflict resulted in hundreds of thousands of deaths and displaced millions. Despite the agreement, both sides have accused each other of violations, fueling fears of a return to full-scale warfare.
The political landscape was further strained during the general election in June, where Abiy’s party secured a parliamentary majority. The poll was marred by low opposition participation, allegations of repression, and ongoing conflict. Both Fano and the OLA rejected the election results, while the Tigray region and its six million residents were entirely excluded from the voting process.
I need to understand the timeline here. Did the recent election results really exclude Tigray entirely, or is this just poor coverage? Seems like a major detail missing.
This is terrifying. Fano and TPLF were enemies just a year ago, now they are allies. Ethiopia is at a dangerous tipping point.