Seven Rebel Groups Form 'Alliance For Survival' to Oust Ethiopia's Federal Government

Seven armed organisations that have clashed with federal authorities across Ethiopia announced they have united under a coalition called the Alliance for Survival, saying their aim is to remove Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.

The coalition brings together the Fano militia from Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and four smaller groups based in Somali, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz regions. Together they represent forces active across six of Ethiopia's 12 regional states.

Claims and Accusations

The groups accused the federal administration of presiding over “war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty,” and warned that Ethiopia is at risk of disintegration. The BBC has asked the government for comment on the announcement.

Background and Regional Context

Ethiopia has experienced years of unrest in Oromia and Amhara, its two most populous regions, and a brutal two-year war in Tigray that left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions. An African Union-mediated peace deal formally ended the Tigray conflict in 2022, but both sides have since accused each other of violating the agreement and there are fears of renewed large-scale fighting.

The country’s federal system—organized largely along ethnic lines—grants regional autonomy but also creates political and social tensions in a nation of more than 80 ethnic communities. The new alliance includes groups active in Oromia, Amhara, Tigray, Somali, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz, covering roughly half the country’s regional states.

[BBC]

Why They Say They Joined Forces

Some members of the coalition have previously fought one another, but leaders say they will now coordinate against what they describe as a common adversary: the Prosperity Party government led by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge, spokesman for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF), said the government failed to honour a 2018 peace deal intended to end conflict in the Somali region and accused the Prosperity Party of being an "obstacle to the people".

"Ethnic conflict, insecurity, and mutual oppression and pushing each other aside have not been eradicated, resulting in a need that has affected every ethnic group," Addaani said. "Our objective is for the communities to have democracy and to exercise their right to self-determination, to genuinely govern themselves."

Recent Developments and Risks

Amhara's Fano militia fought alongside federal forces against the TPLF during the Tigray conflict but later launched an insurgency after refusing government orders to disarm. The federal government has been fighting the OLA since 2018. Reports in recent months alleging ties between the TPLF and neighbouring Eritrea further heightened concerns of a wider confrontation.

In July, Mr Abiy told lawmakers: "Even if others were added, we do not have an iota of fear regarding Ethiopia's sovereignty," expressing confidence in the country's defensive capabilities. The announcement follows a June general election in which Abiy's Prosperity Party retained a large parliamentary majority amid accusations of repression and low opposition participation; the Tigray region and its roughly six million residents were entirely excluded from that vote.

The formation of the Alliance for Survival adds a potentially destabilising element to Ethiopia's complex mix of ethnic federalism, regional grievances and armed movements. Observers warn the coalition could deepen instability if clashes expand across multiple regions, risking renewed large-scale violence and humanitarian crises.

Source: BBC reporting and regional statements