Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front

The Ethiopian People's Patriotic Front (EPPF) is a rebel group founded in side Eritrea in the period of 1987/88 in the beginning the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. It was is operating primarily in the northern Semien (North) Gondar Zone of the Amhara Region. This group tried unsuccessfully to emerge several armed dissident groups inside Ethiopia: the Kefagn Patriotic Front, the Ethiopian Unity Front, the Coalition of Ethiopian Democratic Forces and the Benishangul People's Democratic Movement. in 2005 the movements both was atomized to different Ethnic movements:- Tigerian, Beneshagoul, Southern, Gambella.

From 2006 many of the Ethiopian Diaspora came and visited and exposed its core information to the enemy.

In 2007 some members of the movement gave their hands to the enemy by the advice of some of the enemy members who came from diaspora and internal agents and bought local residents of fighting sone. Since 2008 the front has let Eritrea and moved inside western Ethiopia fighting for liberated zone. Thus not be stigmatized by the traditional rival and belligerence neighbors (i.e. Ethiopia & Eritrea). Since it working in the Western highlands of Ethiopia to this day. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UvQKXWzgZmQ)

Because it was supported by the government of neighboring Eritrea for many years, the EPPF had little popular support inside Ethiopia. Despite this, following the government repression over the 2005 Ethiopian elections popular support for the EPPF has grown. Recently the EPPF has claimed to have defeated Ethiopian army units in Semien Gondar in battles during March and April 2006. Although the Walta Information Center, reported that the government was in clear control of communities in the Semien Gondar Zone such as the Lay Armachiho woreda, the Ethiopian Review website printed an eyewitness report from Belessa woreda that the EPPF has set up check points at various points of the highway and are confiscating vehicles and properties that belong to the government.

On 22 May 2006, at a meeting in Utrecht the EPPF joined the Coalition for Unity and Democracy, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Oromo Liberation Front, the Sidama Liberation Front and the United Ethiopian Democratic Forces to form a coalition called the Alliance for Freedom and Democracy.

In June 2006, the EPPF clashed again with government forces in the Amhara Region. The Ethiopian government reported that it killed 111 and captured 86 EPPF fighters, while the EPPF responded that it had defeated government troops in Qwara on 7 June, and near Delelo in Lay Armachiho five days later.