# Seven rebel groups unite against Ethiopia's PM

> Armed factions across Ethiopia form unprecedented coalition to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
- Title: Seven rebel groups unite against Ethiopia's PM · BBC News
- Summary: Armed factions across Ethiopia form unprecedented coalition to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government. Seven previously competing rebel groups have…
- Keywords: ethiopia, abiy ahmed, fano militia, oromo liberation army, tigray people's liberation front, alliance for survival, armed conflict, amhara, oromia, tigray, rebel coalition, addis ababa
- Source: BBC News — https://bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckp84pj8zpngo
- Published: 2026-09-21T07:35:16.097+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: ethiopia, abiy ahmed, fano militia, oromo liberation army, tigray people's liberation front, alliance for survival, armed conflict, amhara, oromia, tigray, rebel coalition, addis ababa
## Seven rebel groups form alliance
The Fano militia, Oromo Liberation Army, Tigray People's Liberation Front and four smaller groups have announced the Alliance for Survival to challenge Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government.
## Groups accuse PM of war and genocide
The alliance claims Abiy Ahmed's government has presided over war, genocide, mass destruction and poverty, putting Ethiopia at risk of disintegration.

> war, genocide, mass destruction and utter poverty
## Coalition spans half of Ethiopia
The seven groups operate across six of Ethiopia's twelve regional states: Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, Somali, Afar and Benishangul-Gumuz, each with distinct ethnic populations.
## Former enemies now working together
The Fano militia fought alongside federal forces against the TPLF during the Tigray war but turned against the government less than a year later after refusing disarmament orders.
## Analysts doubt lasting cooperation
Experts warn the groups are unlikely to share weapons or maintain unity, as today's allies can become tomorrow's enemies depending on shifting political interests.

> your ally today can be your enemy tomorrow
## Coalition demands democracy and autonomy
The alliance spokesman says the groups want communities to have democracy and self-determination, claiming the government has violated peace agreements and failed to end ethnic oppression.

> democracy and to exercise their right to self-determination
## Government expresses confidence
Abiy's government says the groups were already collaborating and expressed faith in Ethiopia's defensive capabilities, with the PM telling lawmakers he has no fear for the country's sovereignty.

> we do not have an iota of fear regarding Ethiopia's sovereignty
## Key takeaway

Seven previously competing rebel groups have formed the Alliance for Survival to remove Abiy Ahmed's government, uniting factions that sometimes fought each other during the Tigray war.