Guterres calls for immediate ceasefire in northern Ethiopia

O secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, called for an immediate ceasefire between rebels from the Tigrai region and the Ethiopian army, and warned of the risk of internationalization of the conflict, the UN informed today.

Guterres expressed “deep concern” with fighting in northern Ethiopia and asked the parties to cease hostilities immediately, said his spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, in a statement released by the UN office in Addis Ababa.

The UN Head defended the dialogue under the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the war that struck the Tigrai region between 2020 and 2022, in which 600,000 people died.

He also warned of the risks of “an escalation that further undermines stability” in the Horn of Africa, expressing concern about “information on the presence of Eritrean forces in Ethiopia”.

He reminded the countries of the region of their obligation to “abstain the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”.

He also referred to the obligation to “respect the principle of non-interference in home affairs” under the United Nations Charter.

The former Portuguese Prime Minister also called on all countries with influence on the parties involved in the conflict to use it to “favor the slowdown of tension”.

He also asked them to refrain from any action that might “feed the conflict”, added the spokesman in the statement, quoted by the Spanish agency EFE.

Eritrea rejected charges of aggression from neighbouring Ethiopia on Friday and blamed Addis Ababa for launching “an unprovoked war of aggression” against Asmara in the midst of fears of a regional conflict.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos demanded on Thursday the “immediate withdrawal” of the Tigrai territory of Eritrean troops.

Ethiopia accuses Eritrea of supporting the rebels of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Tigrai (FPLT).

The Tigrai Peace Forces (FPT), a militia formed by FPLT dissidents and allied Ethiopian army, denounced the entry of Eritrean troops into the region.

Eritrea and Ethiopia cut off relations on October 1, in an increase in tensions fueled by Addis Ababa’s ambitions to regain access to the Red Sea, according to the EFE.

Ethiopia also accuses Asmara to provide financial support to Ethiopian rebel groups, which is denied by the Eritrean Government.

The situation is aggravated by the formation of an alliance of seven rebel groups and the opposition, which includes the FPLT, to overthrow the Ethiopian Government.

These developments revive the fears of a new war similar to that of 2020-2022, in which Eritrea supported Ethiopia against the FPLT.

Located in northern Ethiopia, the Tigrai region borders Eritrea to the north and Sudan to the west.