Seven Ethiopian Rebel Factions Unite Under 'Alliance for Survival'

Seven distinct Ethiopian rebel groups have announced the formation of a new coalition aimed at ousting the current government in Addis Ababa. Dubbed the ‘Alliance for Survival,’ this bloc brings together significant armed factions, including the Fano militia from the Amhara region, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The alliance also incorporates smaller groups from the Somali, Afar, and Benishangul-Gumuz regions, encompassing half of Ethiopia’s administrative states. Spokespersons for the alliance have levied severe accusations against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration, citing “war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty.” They assert that Ethiopia is currently on the brink of disintegration under its current leadership.

The groups involved have a history of conflict with the federal government. The Fano militia, which initially supported federal forces in the Tigray war, later turned against the government. The OLA has been engaged in conflict since 2018. The TPLF, after a devastating two-year civil war that concluded with an African Union-brokered peace deal in 2022, has faced ongoing accusations of violating the agreement, alongside the federal government.

One of the alliance’s spokesmen, Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge of the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), stated that the government has not upheld a 2018 peace deal for the Somali region. He accused the ruling Prosperity Party of hindering progress and instigating conflict, leading to widespread ethnic strife and a lack of self-determination for various communities.

The formation of the Alliance for Survival follows reports of a potential pact between the TPLF and neighboring Eritrea. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has previously expressed confidence in Ethiopia’s defensive capabilities, stating in July that the nation had “no iota of fear regarding Ethiopia’s sovereignty.” The recent general election in June, which saw Abiy’s party retain a significant majority, was marred by ongoing conflict and accusations of repression, with the Fano and OLA explicitly rejecting its results. The Tigray region was entirely excluded from the vote.

https://nilepost.co.ug/news/372169/seven-ethiopian-rebel-groups-form-new-alliance