Armed groups join forces in Ethiopia in biggest threat yet to embattled Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
Nine groups opposing the government — a broad coalition of armed groups and political actors representing different regional and ethnic interests — formed a new alliance on Friday “in response to the scores of crises facing the country” and to fight against the “genocidal regime of Ethiopia,” according to a statement issued by organizers.The new bloc, which calls itself the United Front of Ethiopian Federalist and Confederalist Forces, said in a signing event in Washington, DC, that it no longer recognized Abiy’s government as legitimate and would seek to establish transitional arrangements, striving toward a democratic future.Addis Ababa’s city administration was instructing residents to register their weapons and gather in local neighborhoods to “safeguard” their surroundings, Reuters reported.Ethiopian state TV on Friday was broadcasting footage of crowds rallying in support of Abiy, waving Ethiopia’s tricolor flag in the capital. CNN’s David McKenzie contributed to this report.
