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Several armed groups fighting Ethiopia’s federal authorities have announced the formation of a new alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.
The coalition, named the Alliance for Survival, brings together the Fano militia in Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and four smaller armed groups, BBC reports.
The groups accused the government of presiding over what they described as “war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty”, and claimed that Ethiopia was at risk of disintegration.
Federal authorities had not immediately responded to the announcement.
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The development comes as Ethiopia continues to face armed conflict in several parts of the country, particularly in the Oromia and Amhara regions.
The country has also experienced renewed tensions in the northern Tigray region, following a two-year civil war that resulted in large-scale deaths and displacement.
An African Union-brokered peace agreement ended the Tigray conflict in 2022, but tensions have persisted, with the parties accusing each other of violating the terms of the agreement.
The Alliance for Survival includes groups from Oromia, Amhara and Tigray, as well as organisations based in Ogaden, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz.
Together, the areas represented by the groups cover about half of Ethiopia’s 12 regional states.
Fano previously fought alongside federal forces during the Tigray war but later turned against the government after rejecting orders to disarm.
The government has been fighting the OLA since 2018, with the conflict contributing to insecurity in parts of Oromia.
The announcement also follows reports of an alleged alliance between the TPLF and neighbouring Eritrea, which has heightened concerns over renewed instability in northern Ethiopia.
Mr Abiy told lawmakers in July that he remained confident in Ethiopia’s ability to defend its sovereignty.
“Even if others were added, we do not have an iota of fear regarding Ethiopia’s sovereignty,” he said.
Ethiopia held a general election in June, with Mr Abiy’s Prosperity Party retaining an overwhelming parliamentary majority.
The election was, however, overshadowed by ongoing conflicts, allegations of repression and limited participation by opposition parties.
Fano and the OLA rejected the election and its results.
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