By John Ikani
The African Union (AU) has raised “grave concerns” regarding “heightened tensions between local communities” in a disputed region of northern Ethiopia.
More than 50,000 individuals have been displaced due to recent clashes in Alamata Town, Raya Alamata, Zata, and Ofla – all situated within an area contested by both the Tigray and Amhara regions.
Previously under Tigrayan administration, the district saw a shift in control when conflict erupted between the federal government and Tigrayan forces in 2020.
Following the conflict, Amhara forces, in collaboration with the federal army, took hold of these territories.
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In a statement issued on Friday, AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat called upon both parties to “promptly cease hostilities and ensure the safety of civilians, thereby preventing further displacement of the local population.”
He also stressed the importance of initiating political dialogue as “the most effective means of addressing the issues surrounding contested areas.”
It is worthwhile to note that the escalating violence poses a significant threat to the implementation of the peace agreement signed by the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in Pretoria, South Africa, in November 2022, bringing an end to the civil war.
