The African Union (AU) has expressed deep concern over the recent developments in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, following clashes between government troops and Tigrayan forces.
Chairperson of the AU Commission, Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, highlighted the importance of preserving the “hard-won gains” achieved under the AU-led Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA).
The peace deal was signed by the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November 2022.
Youssouf urged parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve outstanding issues through constructive dialogue, in full adherence to the obligations and spirit of the agreement.
The AU, through its high-level Panel on Ethiopia, is set to scale up dialogue, cooperation, and confidence-building between the sides for sustainable peace and stability in Tigray.
The European Union has similarly voiced its distress over the military confrontations and clashes, stressing that the 2022 deal must be upheld as the framework to resolve disputes.
“Immediate de-escalation is imperative to prevent a renewed conflict that would have serious consequences for civilians and regional stability,” a statement on Saturday reads.
The 27-state bloc assured its readiness to facilitate and support critical measures required in order to get back to the Pretoria Agreement’s full implementation.
In a statement, US Congressman Gregory Meeks, a ranking member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, warned that “no party stands to benefit from a return to violence.”
Meeks said the fighting in Tigray risks embroiling Ethiopia back into a civil war that endangers millions of lives, worsening the humanitarian crisis, and destabilizing the region.
The lawmaker also aligned with the 2022 agreement and advised warring parties to cease all hostilities and grant humanitarian organizations unfettered access to civilians in need.
“The political challenges facing Ethiopia cannot be resolved on the battlefield,” he declared, adding that diplomacy and credible elections would secure a better future for the Ethiopian people.
