Armed Groups Form Alliance to Oust Ethiopia's Abiy Ahmed

Seven armed groups formed the Ethiopian People’s Forces Alliance for Survival on September 20, 2026, with the explicit goal of removing Abiy Ahmed Ali from power. The escalation followed mutual drone strikes and an offensive by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, which seized three regional airports.

The Ethiopian National Defense Force and allied groups launched counterattacks, recently capturing a town near Mekelle. By September 24, TPLF central committee member Addisalem Balema characterized the situation as a "full war."

On October 2, the conflict potentially expanded south as reports emerged of explosions and suspected drone strikes in the capital, Addis Ababa. This instability follows ongoing tensions regarding the 2022 Pretoria Agreement and comes shortly after the United States signed a defense agreement with Ethiopia in August 2026 to strengthen military ties.