Seven Ethiopian rebel groups form Alliance for Survival coalition

Seven Ethiopian rebel groups fighting the government in different parts of the country said on 21 September they have formed a coalition, the Alliance for Survival, to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government in Addis Ababa. The groups include the Fano militia in Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

Which groups formed the Alliance for Survival?

The coalition brings together the Fano militia in Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and four smaller groupings, under the name Alliance for Survival. Between them, the groups operate in six of Ethiopia’s 12 regional states: Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Ogaden, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz. Federal authorities have not yet responded to the announcement.

What do the groups say about Abiy Ahmed’s government?

The groups accuse Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government of presiding over “war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty”, and say Ethiopia is at risk of disintegration. The groups made the accusation in announcing the coalition.

What is the state of Ethiopia’s armed conflicts?

Ethiopia has faced years of armed conflict in Oromia and Amhara, its two most populous states. In the northern Tigray region, a two-year civil war left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions before an African Union-brokered peace deal ended it in 2022. Both sides have since accused each other of violating that agreement, and there have been fears of a return to full-scale conflict.

Who is fighting whom in Ethiopia?

Amhara’s Fano group fought alongside federal forces during the Tigray war, but turned against the federal government in an armed insurgency less than a year after that war ended, after refusing government orders to disarm. The government has been fighting the OLA since 2018.

What has Abiy Ahmed said?

The announcement of the Alliance for Survival comes months after reports of an alleged alliance between the TPLF and neighbouring Eritrea. Abiy Ahmed responded by saying he had faith in Ethiopia’s “defensive capabilities”, telling lawmakers in July: “Even if others were added, we do not have an iota of fear regarding Ethiopia’s sovereignty.”

How did the June election affect opposition groups?

Ethiopia held a general election in June, with Abiy Ahmed’s Prosperity Party retaining its overwhelming parliamentary majority, despite the poll being overshadowed by conflict, accusations of repression and little participation by opposition parties. The Fano and OLA rebel groups rejected the election and its results, and Tigray region and its six million inhabitants were completely excluded from the poll.

What other armed conflicts are continuing?

Yemen’s Houthis said they struck Riyadh and Yanbu as Saudi Arabia intercepted a missile.

Russia said two people were killed in what it called a ‘massive’ drone attack on the Moscow region.

Frequently asked questions

What is the Alliance for Survival?

It is a coalition of seven Ethiopian rebel groups, including the Fano militia, the Oromo Liberation Army and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, announced with the stated aim of removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government.

How much of Ethiopia do the allied rebel groups operate in?

The seven groups are based across six of Ethiopia’s 12 regional states: Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Ogaden, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz.

Has Ethiopia’s federal government responded to the alliance?

Federal authorities had not yet responded at the time the announcement was reported.

What happened in the Tigray war?

A two-year civil war in Tigray left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions before an African Union-brokered peace deal ended it in 2022. Both sides have since accused each other of violating that agreement.

With reporting from BBC News.

Stock image, not from the events described. Globe World — Jo%E3o%20Silas / Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)