Seven Ethiopian opposition and armed groups have formed a new alliance against the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The groups announced the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival on Sunday.
In a joint statement, the alliance said it aims to remove the current government and establish an inclusive transitional administration.
The Ethiopian government had not publicly responded to the announcement at the time of publication.
Seven groups join Ethiopia alliance
The new alliance brings together groups that have previously fought the government and, in some cases, each other.
They include the Amhara Fano National Movement, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA).
The coalition also includes the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Peoples’ Liberation Movement and the Gumuz Peoples’ Democratic Movement.
The groups said they would coordinate their efforts while seeking to resolve differences between them peacefully.
Alliance proposes transitional government
In its founding statement, the alliance accused Abiy’s government of authoritarian rule and blamed it for Ethiopia’s political and security problems.
These are allegations made by the coalition.
The alliance said a proposed transitional government would seek to end conflicts, protect rights and launch a national dialogue.
Al Jazeera reported that leaders of the groups had been discussing the formation of an alliance for about a year, citing a source close to Fano.
Ethiopian academic Eyob Tilahun also told Al Jazeera that the groups had agreed to pursue dialogue despite their previous differences.
Tensions remain across Ethiopia
The announcement comes amid continued tensions in several parts of Ethiopia.
Fighting has affected Oromia since 2018 and Amhara since 2023.
Meanwhile, recent clashes in Tigray have raised concerns about the future of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.
That agreement ended the war between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan forces.
However, disputes over issues including disarmament and the TPLF’s legal status have remained unresolved.