Rebel Coalition Resents AU Characterization Amid Escalating Conflict and Flight Suspensions
Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada — The Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival on Thursday said the African Union is overlooking what it described as “a profound crisis facing Ethiopia.”
The coalition resented the African Union’s characterization of the group—which draws membership from six regional states—as “a threat to peace and stability.”
In a statement released on Thursday, the coalition stated:
“By portraying the formation of the Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival as a threat to peace and stability, the AU overlooks the profound crisis facing Ethiopia and the reasons the Alliance was formed.”
On Wednesday, the African Union Chairperson expressed concern over the escalation of the conflict in northern Ethiopia and the TPLF’s seizure of three airports in Tigray (Mekelle, Aksum, and Shire), alongside the detention of federal police posted to secure government institutions.
The coalition argues that conflicts in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, and other regions reflect a national crisis and cannot be viewed in isolation:
“Across the country, armed conflict, displacement, economic hardship, and political exclusion have inflicted immense suffering. The conflicts in Amhara, Oromia, Tigray, and other parts of Ethiopia cannot be viewed in isolation. Together, they reflect a national crisis that threatens the lives of civilians, the integrity of state institutions, and Ethiopia’s future….”
The coalition also expressed concern that the African Union “has not responded to this crisis with the urgency and sustained engagement it requires.”
Positioning its activity as an effort to end conflict and prevent fragmentation, the group stated:
“The Alliance for Survival seeks to bring together Ethiopians committed to ending violence and preventing further national fragmentation. Its objectives include establishing an inclusive transitional government, facilitating a participatory national and constitutional dialogue, protecting civilians, and creating the conditions for a credible and sustainable political settlement. We believe that a lasting path to peace must meaningfully address the grievances, concerns, and aspirations of communities across Ethiopia.”
The rebels urged the AU to reconsider its characterization of the Alliance and engage with its stated objectives.
Meanwhile, Ethiopian Airlines on Thursday cancelled flights to Lalibela due to the conflict. This follows Wednesday’s cancellation of flights to Tigray destinations—Mekelle, Shire, and Aksum—following the seizure of the airports by TPLF forces.
Fano forces, members of the coalition, claimed to have carried out a devastating attack on the Ethiopian Defense Force in the North Wollo Lalibela area, capturing two army colonels and seizing an army convoy with artillery ammunition.
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