Ethiopia’s Newly Established Alliance for Survival Rejects African Union’s Characterization, Calls for Inclusive National Dialogue and Civilian Protection

September 24, 2026 

The newly formed Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival has rejected the African Union’s characterization of the coalition as a threat to peace and stability, arguing instead that the AU is overlooking what the alliance describes as a broader national crisis driving conflict across Ethiopia.

In a statement issued on September 24, the alliance said armed conflict, displacement, economic hardship and political exclusion in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray and other parts of the country should not be viewed separately, but as interconnected elements of a national crisis threatening civilians, state institutions and Ethiopia’s future.

The statement comes days after seven political and armed organizations announced the formation of the Alliance for Survival, including the Amhara Fano National Movement, Oromo Liberation Army, Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Ogaden National Liberation Front, Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, Benishangul Peoples’ Liberation Movement and Gumuz Peoples’ Democratic Movement.

Alliance Says AU Is Focusing on the Coalition Rather Than the Underlying Crisis

The alliance said it had read the AU’s recent press release “with deep concern,” accusing the continental body of portraying the new coalition itself as the problem while failing to address what it describes as the underlying causes of Ethiopia’s conflicts.

According to the statement, the alliance was formed to bring together Ethiopians seeking to end violence, prevent further national fragmentation and create a political process capable of addressing grievances across the country.

It said its objectives include establishing an inclusive transitional government, facilitating a participatory national and constitutional dialogue, protecting civilians, and creating conditions for what it called a credible and sustainable political settlement.

The coalition argued that any lasting peace process must address the grievances and political aspirations of communities across Ethiopia rather than treating the country’s conflicts as isolated regional problems.

Calls on AU to Reconsider Its Position

The Alliance for Survival called on the African Union to reconsider how it has described the coalition and instead engage with its stated political objectives.

It urged the AU to use its influence to help end attacks on civilians, support humanitarian access and advance what it described as an inclusive, nationally owned process for resolving Ethiopia’s conflicts.

“Ethiopia’s people need a response equal to the scale and urgency of the crisis they face,” the statement said.

The AU had earlier warned that the formation of new political and military alliances risked further destabilizing Ethiopia amid renewed fighting in northern parts of the country.

The latest response therefore adds another layer to the dispute between the AU and actors challenging the federal government: while the AU has warned that the new coalition could contribute to further instability, the Alliance for Survival argues that its formation is a response to an already existing nationwide political and security crisis.

Statement Emphasizes Political Transition and Dialogue

That framing comes amid renewed hostilities in northern Ethiopia and international calls for de-escalation. The United Kingdom, for example, called on September 24 for an immediate end to hostilities and a return to AU-led dialogue, while explicitly rejecting the alliance’s stated aim of overthrowing the federal government. 

The September 24 statement places greater emphasis on political transition, constitutional dialogue, civilian protection and humanitarian access than on military operations.

The new statement suggests the alliance is seeking to present itself not only as a coalition of armed and political organizations, but also as a proposed framework for a broader national political transition.