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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 include former adversaries, stated on Sunday that they intend to establish an inclusive transitional government to address the country’s ongoing conflicts.
The alliance comprises 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 members 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 proposed a transitional government guided by a charter intended to end active conflicts, protect human rights, and initiate a national dialogue.
The formation of this alliance follows years of regional instability, including fighting in Oromia since 2018 and the Amhara region since 2023. Recent clashes in the Tigray region have also raised concerns regarding the stability of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which the TPLF declared effectively dead in July. The Ethiopian government has not yet issued a public response to the announcement.
Academic Eyob Tilahun noted that the groups appear to have set aside previous differences, including territorial disputes between Amhara and Tigray, based on a shared belief that they face a survival threat from the federal government. Leaders of the groups had reportedly been in discussions regarding the alliance for approximately one year.
Article source: www.aljazeera.com | Image credit: www.aljazeera.com
