Ethiopian Peoples' Forces Alliance for Survival

Force in Play

Formed September 2026; the Oromia government blames it for the October killings

Armed men killed at least 60 Orthodox Christians in two districts of Ethiopia's Oromia region, the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahedo Church said. The church reported 14 dead in Merti district on October 20 and 46 in Shirka district four days later. Residents told the BBC and Addis Standard that gunmen went house to house for nearly six hours, and that children were among the dead.

Updated Oct 29

Force in Play

Announced September 20, 2026

Federal forces hold Mekelle, Adigrat, Shire and Adwa, and a caretaker administration with a six-month mandate is now running Tigray. On October 23 its political mobilization chief told Tigrayan fighters to hand over their weapons; a TPLF commander had urged more attacks hours earlier.

Updated Oct 29

Force in Play

Rejected US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's description of it as 'separatist' and 'terrorist'

Ethiopian forces and their Tigray Peace Force allies entered Aksum in mid-October and took Bizet and Inticho on October 20, extending federal control across northern Tigray. Federal troops also pulled back from the border towns of Zalambessa and Rama while keeping up drone and artillery strikes on Tigrayan fighters in the central mountains.

Updated Oct 23

Force in Play

As of October 2026: Newly formed; its Tigray members declared a new war with the federal government on September 23

Seven Ethiopian armed groups announced a joint coalition on September 20, linking rebel movements from the country's largest regions under one banner. Three days later, Tigrayan leaders declared a new war with the federal government, and fighting has since spread into the neighboring Afar and Amhara regions.

Updated Oct 5