The African Union has said it is following events in the Ethiopian region of Tigray with “deep concern”, as tensions between rival factions threaten a fragile peace agreement.
The AU made this known in statement issued on Friday, March 14, 2025.
A peace agreement in 2022 ended a brutal two-year war between Tigrayan rebels and the federal government that claimed up to 600,000 lives, according to some estimates.
But a failure to fully implement the terms has fuelled divisions within the Tigrayan political elite and combined with deteriorating ties between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea to raise fears of a new conflict.
Part of the statement reads, “The AU emphasises that adherence to the (2022 peace agreement) is crucial for maintaining the hard-won peace and fostering an environment conducive to sustainable peacebuilding, reconciliation and development.
“The AU underscores the importance of stability and peace in the region, calling upon all parties involved to exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue>
“In light of the current developments, the AU strongly encourages the parties to uphold the obligations enshrined in the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) between the TPLF and the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, in Pretoria, in November 2022”, the statement added.
The AU further emphasised that adherence to the COHA is crucial for maintaining the hard-won peace and fostering an environment conducive to sustainable peacebuilding, reconciliation and development.
