Newly formed United Front of Ethiopian Federalist Forces aims to remove premier from power
NAIROBI, Kenya ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia
The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which have been fighting the Ethiopian government for nearly a year have joined hands in an alliance with opposition groups to form a party against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, one of the groups has said.
Berhane Gebrechristos, spokesman for the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) said Friday the group joined TPLF and at least seven other opposition political parties in Ethiopia to form the United Front of Ethiopian Federalist Forces political party to remove Abiy from power.
A spokesman for the prime minister’s office told Anadolu Agency that the government is aware of the alliance by Ethiopian factions but dismissed it as a gimmick.
“The opening up of the political space three years ago provided ample opportunity for contenders to settle their differences at the ballot box in June 2021. Any outliers that rejected the democratic processes Ethiopia embarked upon cannot be for democratization,” said Billene Seyoum.
The US Embassy in Addis Ababa urged its nationals on Friday to leave Ethiopia as soon as possible and called on the warring sides to embrace dialogue to bring the war to an end.
”We have been alarmed by reports of the TPLF further expansion of the conflict in Amhara and Afar. Continued fighting only prolongs the humanitarian crisis that is afflicting far too many people in Ethiopia today. All parties must begin ceasefire negotiations without preconditions,” it said.
There have been additional calls from the international community, including regional governments, to end hostilities through dialogue and negotiations.
The war has claimed thousands of innocent lives and left many injured.
