Conflict in Ethiopia: a new deal with the rapprochement of the Tigrayan and Oromo rebels?
Fighters from Tigray rebel forces in Ethiopia, June 2021. AFP - YASUYOSHI CHIBA
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2 min
In Ethiopia, nine months after the resumption of the conflict in Tigray, a rapprochement is announced between several dissident forces: the Oromo Liberation Army (OLA) active in the west of the country;
and the TPLF which fights the federal government in the province of Tigray further north.
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"
There is some kind of agreement,
" said one of the spokespersons for the TPLF.
“
It is only natural that we work with people who have a stake in the future of the Ethiopian state,
” he continues.
The OLA, for its part, declares that this agreement is still at an early stage and is based on "
mutual understanding
" that the regime of Abyiy Ahmed "
must be overthrown
".
At this stage, he says, “
intelligence
” is exchanged between the two forces and they coordinate their strategy.
What impact?
It is difficult today to assess the impact on the ground of such an alliance.
Two days ago, the OLA declared to have resumed a strategic axis while the TPLF, in recent weeks, has continued its offensive.
Two days ago, the prime minister called on "
all able-bodied and adult Ethiopians
" to
join the national defense forces
, less than two months after declaring a unilateral ceasefire.
The OLA and the TPLF were classified by parliament in May as terrorist groups.
►
See also:
Ethiopia: hundreds of victims of rape, sexual slavery and mutilation in Tigray
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