United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres has backed the African Union’s diplomatic efforts, led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, to ease renewed tensions in northern Ethiopia as fighting intensifies in and around the Tigray region.
In a statement issued by his spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, Guterres expressed grave concern over the deteriorating security situation, including the reported seizure and occupation of airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire. He also cited reports of intensified fighting in and around Tigray and the spread of hostilities into neighboring areas.
The UN chief called on all parties to exercise maximum restraint, immediately de-escalate tensions and protect civilians.
He also urged the parties to ensure safe and unhindered humanitarian access and avoid actions that could lead to “a broader and more devastating conflict.”
Guterres reiterated the UN’s support for the African Union’s efforts, including Obasanjo’s engagement with the parties, and called for a return to good-faith negotiations under the framework of the Pretoria Agreement.
The African Union Commission has similarly called for an immediate halt to the escalation and the resumption of direct talks under the 2022 peace agreement.
AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed concern over the seizure of the three airports and reports of escalating hostilities in parts of South Tigray and the Afar region.
He said the Pretoria Agreement remained the cornerstone of sustainable peace, stability and reconciliation in Ethiopia.
Youssouf has asked Obasanjo, the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, to urgently engage the parties in renewed diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions, promote dialogue, and safeguard the peace process.
The latest escalation has placed renewed pressure on the peace agreement that ended two years of devastating conflict between Ethiopia’s Federal Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Obasanjo led the AU mediation that resulted in the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities, signed by the Ethiopian government and the TPLF in Pretoria, South Africa, on Nov. 2, 2022.
The negotiations were also facilitated by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The agreement provided for the cessation of hostilities, humanitarian access, restoration of essential services, disarmament, reconciliation and political dialogue.
The AU said the reported seizure and occupation of the civilian airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire by Tigrayan forces, as well as the detention of federal personnel, were inconsistent with commitments under the Pretoria Agreement and risked undermining gains made towards lasting peace.
Guterres urged the parties to avoid military actions that could widen the conflict and worsen the humanitarian situation.
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He said the immediate priorities were de-escalation, protection of civilians, humanitarian access and a return to dialogue under the existing peace framework.
The UN has continued to monitor the situation as fighting spreads across northern Ethiopia and increasingly disrupts humanitarian operations.
