Seven Ethiopian armed groups have announced the formation of a new coalition, the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, with the stated goal of overthrowing the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. The groups, which have previously held conflicting interests, stated on Sunday that they intend to establish an inclusive transitional government to address the country’s ongoing conflicts.
The alliance includes the Amhara Fano National Movement, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA). Four smaller organizations—the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Peoples’ Liberation Movement, and the Gumuz Peoples’ Democratic Movement—are also part of the coalition.
In a joint statement, the alliance accused the government of imposing dictatorial rule and contributing to the potential fragmentation of the country. The coalition plans to implement a charter aimed at ending current hostilities, protecting human rights, and initiating a national dialogue.
The announcement follows a period of escalating instability in Ethiopia. Fighting has persisted in the Oromia region since 2018 and in the Amhara region since 2023. Additionally, recent clashes in the Tigray region have raised concerns regarding the stability of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which the TPLF declared effectively dead in mid-July.
The groups involved have a history of complex relations. Fano forces previously fought alongside the federal government against the TPLF during the 2020-2022 Tigray war. Furthermore, Amhara and Tigray forces remain in dispute over the administration of Western Tigray.
According to a source close to the Fano movement, leaders of the various groups had been in negotiations for approximately one year. The Ethiopian government has not yet issued a public response to the formation of the alliance.
Article source: www.aljazeera.com | Image credit: www.aljazeera.com