AUC Chairperson, Mahamat Calls for Urgent De-escalation in Northern Ethiopia

The African Union Commission, AUC’s Chairperson, H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat, has called for an urgent de-escalation over rising tensions between local communities in northern areas of Ethiopia.

In a statement released Thursday, the Commission said it was deeply concerned about the “escalating tension between local communities” involved in a dispute and called for all parties to “urgently halt hostilities.”

In part, the statement reads:

The Chairperson calls on both sides to urgently halt hostilities and ensure the safety of civilians to end the renewed displacement of the local population.

Furthermore, AUC’s Mahamat appealed for the respect and full implementation of the ‘Agreement for Lasting Peace Through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities (COHA)‘ so peace could reign.

This agreement was signed between the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray’s People Liberation Front (TPLF) on 2 November 2022 in Pretoria, South Africa.

Also, Mahamat called the two parties, including Raya Alamata, Zata and Ofla town, to consider the commencement of political dialogue, which he stated is “the most viable means to respond to the issues of contested areas, as stipulated in the COHA” agreement.

Meanwhile, according to the United Nations (UN), over 50,000 have been displaced by this month’s clashes in Alamata Town, Zata and Ofla, which is part of the disputed area of the local population claimed by Tigray and neighbouring Amhara.

Amhara forces occupied Raya Alamata in the southern Tigray during a two-year war between Ethiopia’s government and regional Tigrayan authorities.

The recent regional outburst stemmed from last week’s accusation by the Amhara regional authorities, which accused the TPLF, which controls Tigray, of “invading” Raya Amalata and other areas “which have identity questions.”

Last week, the recent developments were the work of diehard enemies of the Pretoria agreement trying to take advantage of actual or perceived differences to derail the peace deal, Getachew Reda, a senior TPLF member, posts on X reads.

However, the AUC has called for immediate dialogue and consideration for peace, including the international communities (US, France, Japan, and Britain) urging the “de-escalation and protection of civilians, with the AUC reiterating its commitment to Ethiopia government and its people while promising adequate measures in resolving multiple conflicts caused by territorial claims.

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Mayowa Durosinmi

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M. Durosinmi is a West Africa Weekly investigative reporter covering Politics, Human Rights, Health, and Security in West Africa and the Sahel Region

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