The African Union on Tuesday called for an immediate end to bloodshed and hostilities going on in Ethiopia and the Tigray region, reported DW News.
“The chairperson [Moussa Faki Mahamat] appeals for the immediate cessation of hostilities and calls on parties to respect human rights and ensure the protection of civilians,” the African Union (AU) said in a statement.
The AU head called both the parties to enter into a dialogue to find a peaceful solution in the interest of the country.
Tensions surged after Tigray held a regional election in September, which the federal government called illegal.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has said the military will continue with the offensive in the Tigray region until its leadership is removed. He said there would be no negotiations until the law enforcement operation is over.
Last week, Ahmed ordered the military to respond to an attack on an army camp in the regional capital of Mekele by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, known as the TPLF, which governs the state of more than 5 million people. The Ethiopian government has also declared a state of emergency in the Tigray district.
The Tigray government claim the Ethiopian government discriminates against them and behaved autocratically in postponing the election.
The leader of Ethiopia’s Tigray region accused Eritrea of sending soldiers over the border and attacking local forces after the federal government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed launched an offensive against the region last week.
The president of the Tigray region, Debretsion Gebremichael, who is also chairman of TPLF, accused Eritrea of sending soldiers over the border and attacking local forces.
“Since yesterday, the army of (Eritrean leader) Isaias (Afwerki) have crossed the country’s boundary and invaded,” he said. “They were attacking via Humera using heavy arms.”
As per reports, about 2,500 Ethiopians have escaped across the border to Sudan from fighting in the restive Tigray region.
