Seven Ethiopian Armed Groups Form Coalition Against Federal Government
Seven armed groups in Ethiopia have formed an anti-government alliance, raising fears of a renewed civil war. The coalition includes Tigray forces, Fano militias, and the Oromo Liberation Army.
Seven armed groups in Ethiopia have announced the formation of a coalition against the federal government, raising fears of a renewed brutal conflict in the country. The alliance includes forces from Tigray, Amhara nationalist militias, and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
A New Anti-Government Alliance
Emmanuel Assefa, vice president of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), stated that the groups have formed an alliance aimed at toppling the regime and establishing a transitional government. The coalition also includes the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Gumuz Liberation Movement, and the Gumu Peoples Democratic Movement.
According to Assefa, Amhara Fano leader Zemene Kassie will head the alliance. In a televised address on Tigray television, Kassie described the administration in Addis Ababa as a dictatorial and murderous regime that is pushing Ethiopia toward total disintegration.
We think we will succeed. We have been negotiating for over a year, said Emmanuel Assefa, TPLF vice president.
Regional Tensions and Expert Outlook
African Union reports indicate that government forces and Tigray fighters have been massing troops along the northern borders in recent months, echoing the devastating civil war that lasted from 2020 to 2022 and claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
International relations expert Prof. Yohannes Waldemariam noted that despite regional divisions, the willingness of these groups to set aside their differences is significant, undermining Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's divide-and-rule strategy. However, other analysts remain skeptical about the coalition's military longevity and ideological cohesion.
