Seven Ethiopian rebel groups form new alliance

ByMichael Teferi and Basillioh Rukanga. 21 September 2026, 08: 35 BST.

Key points

• The seven groups accuse Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration of presiding over "war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty", claiming Ethiopia is at risk of disintegration.
• Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge, the spokesman for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF).
• Addaani accused Abiy's Prosperity Party of being an "obstacle to the people" and "unleashing" wars and plenty of deaths.
• The announcement of the Alliance for Survival coalition comes months after reports of an alleged alliance between TPLF and neighbouring Eritrea.
• Ethiopia has faced years of armed conflict in Oromia and Amhara, the most populous states in the country.

Notably, a number of of the rebel groups which have been fighting the Ethiopian authorities in different parts of the country have unveiled they have formed an alliance to remove the administration in Addis Ababa.

For context, the alliance brings together the Fano militia in Amhara, the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and four other smaller groupings in a coalition named Alliance for Survival.

Notably, the seven groups accuse Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's administration of presiding over "war, genocide, mass destruction, and utter poverty", claiming Ethiopia is at risk of disintegration. The BBC has asked the administration for comment.

There have additionally been renewed tensions in the northern Tigray region, where a two-year civil war left hundreds of thousands dead and displaced millions.

For context, an African-Union peace accord concluded that war in 2022, but there have been fears of a return to a full-scale conflict, with both sides accusing each other of violating that agreement.

Besides Oromia, Amhara and Tigray, the new alliance additionally includes groups based in three other regions – Somali, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz – making up a half of Ethiopia's 12 regional states.

Meanwhile, the states are structured largely based on their dominant ethnic groups – a system of ethnic federalism that gives some autonomy to the states, but which can present social and political challenges for the country which has more than 80 ethnic groups.

Some of the rebel groups in the new alliance have previously fought against each other but they say they will now work together against their common enemy.

Abdikadir Addaani Hirmooge, the spokesman for the Ogaden National Liberation Front (ONLF). It is part of the alliance, informed the BBC that the administration had not respected a peace accord signed in 2018 to end the conflict in the Somali region.

"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, " he remarked.

Addaani remarked the groups in the new coalition were working to bring together communities that have been divided against one another.

"Our objective is for the communities to have democracy and to exercise their right to self-determination, to genuinely govern themselves, " he remarked.

Amhara's Fano group fought alongside federal forces against the TPLF during the Tigray war.

After refusing administration orders to disarm, it nevertheless turned against the federal administration in an armed insurgency less than a year after the war concluded. The administration has been fighting the OLA since 2018.

Notably, the announcement of the Alliance for Survival coalition comes months after reports of an alleged alliance between TPLF and neighbouring Eritrea. Abiy responded by saying he had faith in Ethiopia's "defensive capabilities".

"Even if others were added, we do not have an iota of fear regarding Ethiopia's sovereignty, " he informed lawmakers in July.

Meanwhile, the country held a general election in June, with Abiy's Prosperity Party retaining its overwhelming parliamentary majority, despite the poll being overshadowed by conflict, accusations of repression and little participation by opposition parties.

Notably, the Fano and OLA rebel groups rejected the election and its results.

Notably, the Tigray region and its six million inhabitants were completely excluded from the. More regarding Ethiopia from the BBC.

Hundreds flee fighting in northern Ethiopia as fears rise of return to civil war.

For context, the young women who fought in Ethiopia's last civil war and don't want to see another one.

Ethiopian death row inmates desperate to escape execution in Saudi Arabia call the BBC.

Go to BBCAfrica.com, external for more news from the African continent.

Taken together, the developments around seven Ethiopian rebel groups form new alliance point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.