Addis Ababa – The head of the African Union Commission voiced “deep concern” Wednesday at renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and called for a “de-escalation”.
Moussa Faki Mahamat “strongly calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urges the parties to resume talks to seek a peaceful solution”, the AU said in a statement.
The AU’s Horn of Africa envoy Olusegun Obasanjo has been leading the international push to end the 21-month conflict in northern Ethiopia between Tigrayan rebels and government forces.
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Faki “reiterates the African Union’s continued commitment to work with the parties in support of a consensual political process in the interest of the country” the AU said, calling for both sides to engage with Obasanjo.
Fighting erupted on Wednesday around the southern edge of Tigray, with both the government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) accusing the other of resuming hostilities and torpedoing a five-month old ceasefire.
The government wants the AU envoy to lead any peace talks but the TPLF has rejected Obasanjo’s mediation.
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Source: AFP
Picture: Twitter/@_AfricanUnion
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