Seven armed groups in Ethiopia have announced the formation of a new alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. The announcement was made on Sunday, 20 September 2026, as political and security tensions continue to rise in the country.
The new coalition, known as the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival, brings together groups from different parts of the country. Its members include the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the Amhara Fano National Movement, the Oromo Liberation Army, the Ogaden National Liberation Front and groups from the Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz regions.
The alliance is significant because some of its members were previously involved in conflicts against one another. The TPLF and Fano, for example, fought on opposite sides during Ethiopia’s 2020–2022 Tigray war. Fano later became involved in fighting against federal government forces in the Amhara region.
In their joint statement, the groups accused the government of centralising power and failing to address the country’s political and security problems. They said they want to establish a transitional government and work towards ending conflicts across the country.
The announcement comes amid renewed tensions in the Tigray region. The 2022 peace agreement ended the major fighting between the federal government and Tigrayan forces, but disagreements over the implementation of the agreement have continued. Recent clashes have raised concerns about a possible return to wider conflict.
The Ethiopian government has previously accused neighbouring Eritrea of supporting armed groups in the country. Eritrea has denied similar accusations. Reuters also reported that the Ethiopian government has said it is pursuing national dialogue to address longstanding political divisions.
The formation of the alliance adds another major development to Ethiopia’s ongoing political and security challenges. How closely the different groups will cooperate remains uncertain, particularly because some of them have previously fought against each other.
