Ethiopian Opposition Blocs Coalesce to Challenge Prime Minister Abiy
ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Seven opposition groups across Ethiopia have formed a coalition aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and his government, according to an announcement made on Sunday.
The alliance will be known as the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance
its members are the Amhara Fano National Movement, the Oromo Liberation Army, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Peoples’ Liberation Movement and the Gumuz Peoples’ Democratic Movement.
The TPLF leadership previously fought federal authorities during the deadly conflict in northern Ethiopia that culminated in a peace agreement signed in November 2022.
Michael Asgedom, spoke for the TPLF, stating that cooperation with other opposition factions is purely political and military, and that joint military operations may be necessary to achieve the objective of removing the dictatorial regime.
When asked whether the TPLF’s participation violated the 2022 peace pact, Asgedom declared that the agreement is no longer valid.
Chairman of the Amhara Fano National Movement, Zemene Kassie, announced the new alliance on Sunday via Tigray TV, accusing the federal government of overseeing widespread insecurity, armed conflict, displacement, poverty and systemic human rights abuses.
The Ethiopian Media Authority issued a response on Monday by declaring Tigray TV an illegal entity and prosecuting it for promoting insurrection.
Beyond the Tigray crisis, federal authorities have confronted conflicts in Amhara and Oromia provinces as well.
President Abiy’s Prosperity Party retained power in the June general election, which was boycotted by the primary opposition blocs.
It remained uncertain how tightly the seven groups would coordinate toward their shared aim of ousting Abiy, who assumed the premiership in 2018 and was honored with the Nobel Peace Prize following his role in brokering peace with Eritrea.
Earlier, relations with neighboring Eritrea eased when Eritrean forces partnered with Ethiopian troops against TPLF-aligned fighters in 2020.
Subsequent deterioration in diplomatic ties partly resulted from Abiy’s push for sovereign access to the Eritrean port of Assab, with Ethiopia also accusing Eritrea of backing rebel groups operating within Ethiopian territory.
