The Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AU) Moussa Faki Mahamat has called for immediate cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia’s Tigray region.
The AU chief, in a statement, expressed concerns over the escalation of military confrontation in the area, urging the warring parties to engage in a dialogue to seek a peaceful solution in the interests of the country.
The crisis started after the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the regional government in Tigray, attacked a key Ethiopian military base in the region.
More than 1.7 million people have been displaced by fighting between Ethiopian troops and the Tigray Defence Force.
‘In this regard, the chairperson calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities, the full respect for the life and property of civilians, as well as state infrastructure’, the statement read.
The chairperson reminded the parties of their international obligations regarding compliance with international humanitarian and human rights law, with particular regard to the protection of civilians and ensuring access to humanitarian assistance by communities in need.
He called on the parties to engage with the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, reiterating the AU’s continued commitment to work with the parties in support of a consensual political process.
The Human Rights Watch (HRW) had accused Ethiopian forces and their allies of flagrant violations of human rights amidst the conflict.
Source: African Union
Photo source: UNHCR/Will Swanson
