United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces

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United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces
Dates of operation5 November 2021–present
Group(s) OLA
Gambella Peoples Liberation Army
Agaw Democratic Movement
SNLF
Somali State Resistance
Kimant Democratic Party
Former members:
ARDUF (Nov 2021–Jan 2022)
BPLM (Nov 2021–Oct 2022)
TPLF (Nov 2021–Nov 2022)
Active regionsEthiopia
IdeologyAnti-Abiy
Ethnic federalism
StatusActive
Opponents Ethiopia
 Eritrea
Battles and warsTigray War
Oromo conflict
Benishangul-Gumuz conflict

The United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces (UFEFCF) is a coalition of six Ethiopian rebel groups, including the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), created in November 2021 during the Tigray War.[1][2][3]

Creation[edit]

TDF–OLA alliance[edit]

In August 2021, Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) leader Debretsion Gebremichael and spokesperson Getachew Reda stated that the Tigray Defense Forces was in negotiations with the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) to cooperate in fighting against the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF). OLA spokesperson Odaa Tarbii stated that the two groups "share[d] intel and coordinate[d] strategy", and that the motivation for cooperation was "mutual understanding that Abiy's dictatorship must be removed".[1]

Nine-group alliance[edit]

By late October 2021, negotiations had extended to several smaller rebel groups.[2] On 5 November 2021, the alliance was announced to be composed of the following nine groups:[3]

The alliance was named the United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces.[3]

On 31 January 2022 the ARDUF announced that it was distancing itself from the United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces after accusing Tigrayan forces of killing civilians in the Afar region.[4]

On 19 October 2022, the BPLM signed a peace agreement with the regional government and left the coalition.[5]

During the Ethiopia–Tigray peace agreement, the TPLF agreed to "Refrain from aiding and abetting, supporting, or collaborating with any armed or subversive group in any part of the country."[6]

Aims[edit]

The alliance stated that its aim was to "dismantle Abiy's government by force or by negotiations, and then form a transitional authority."[1]

Reactions[edit]

Gedion Timotheos, the Ethiopian Minister of Justice,[7] called the 5 November announcement of the nine-group alliance a "publicity stunt" and claimed that some of the participating groups were "not really organisations that have any traction".[3]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c "Ethiopia's Tigray forces seek new military alliance". Thomson Reuters. 2021-08-11. Archived from the original on 2021-10-01. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  2. ^ a b Rynn, Simon; Hassen, Ahmed (2021-10-22). "Ethiopia: What Next?". Royal United Services Institute. Archived from the original on 2021-10-29. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  3. ^ a b c d e "Nine anti-gov't groups team up as Ethiopia recalls ex-soldiers". Al Jazeera English. 2021-11-05. Archived from the original on 2021-11-06. Retrieved 2021-11-06.
  4. ^ "An Afar-based armed group parts its ways with TPLF-led alliance". My Views on News. 2022-02-01. Archived from the original on 2022-02-01. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
  5. ^ "Benishangul Gumuz regional govt, rebel group sign peace agreement". Addis Standard. 19 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  6. ^ "Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities between the Government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People's Liberation Front" (PDF). Addis Standard. 2022-11-02. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2022-11-04. Retrieved 2022-11-04.
  7. ^ "Update: Details of Ethiopia's State of Emergency proclamation". Addis Standard. 2021-11-02. Archived from the original on 2021-11-05. Retrieved 2021-11-06.


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