Ethiopia Accuses Foreign Actors of Backing Rebel Groups Seeking to Topple Government 

ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Ethiopia’s government has accused various groups of working with foreign actors to undermine the country, saying its security forces are capable of confronting what it described as threats to national sovereignty.

The government’s comments come as armed groups, including the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the Amhara Fano National Movement and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), have announced an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and establishing a transitional administration.

The newly formed Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival brings together groups from several parts of the country that have previously been involved in separate conflicts with federal authorities. The alliance said it would coordinate its efforts against the government and work toward a transitional government.

Ethiopian authorities have repeatedly accused armed and political opponents of receiving support from foreign actors. Abiy’s spokesperson, Billene Seyoum, said members of the new alliance had been cooperating for some time with financial backing from Eritrea. Eritrea has not immediately responded to the latest allegation, while Asmara has previously denied accusations of supporting Ethiopian rebel groups.

The government has also accused the TPLF of maintaining activities outside Ethiopia and using bases in neighbouring countries to pursue what it considers to be interests against the country’s sovereignty. Officials have maintained that Ethiopia’s security institutions have sufficient capacity to prevent such activities from threatening the federal government.

The formation of the alliance marks a new development in Ethiopia’s complex security landscape. The coalition includes former adversaries that fought on opposite sides during the 2020-2022 Tigray war, as well as groups involved in separate insurgencies in Oromia and Amhara.

The groups have accused Abiy’s government of centralising power and marginalising regional communities. They have said their objective is to remove the current government and facilitate an inclusive transitional administration. TPLF Vice President Amanuel Assefa said the groups had been coordinating for more than a year.

The announcement comes amid renewed tensions between federal authorities and Tigrayan forces. The African Union has reported that both sides have amassed troops along the border of Tigray in recent months, raising concerns about a possible return to large-scale fighting after the 2022 peace agreement ended the devastating Tigray conflict.

Analysts have questioned whether the rebel groups can operate effectively as a unified force because of their differing political objectives, territorial disputes and separate histories. However, analysts have also warned that coordinated action across several regions could put additional pressure on federal forces already engaged in multiple security operations.

The Ethiopian government has continued to promote national dialogue as a way of addressing political divisions and armed conflicts, while maintaining that its security institutions are capable of defending the country and preserving the federal system.

The emergence of the new alliance nevertheless adds another layer to Ethiopia’s ongoing political and security challenges, with the government facing armed opposition in several regions and renewed tensions in Tigray.

GAROWE ONLINE