African Union Urges Restraint Amid Renewed Tensions in Ethiopia’s Tigray Region

– The African Union Commission has voiced concern over recent developments in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, urging all parties to uphold the peace gains achieved under the 2022 cessation of hostilities agreement.

In a statement released today January 30, 2026, the AU Commission Chairperson, H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, said he is closely monitoring the unfolding situation in parts of Tigray and expressed “deep concern” about the latest tensions.

Youssouf emphasized the importance of safeguarding the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), signed in Pretoria on November 2, 2022, between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF). The accord, brokered under AU leadership, ended two years of devastating conflict in northern Ethiopia.

“The preservation of the hard-won gains achieved under the AU-led Permanent COHA remains paramount,” the Chairperson stated, calling on all sides to exercise maximum restraint and avoid actions that could erode trust.

The AU reaffirmed its commitment to peacebuilding and reconciliation, pledging continued support for the parties as they work to resolve outstanding issues through dialogue. The Commission highlighted that its High-Level Panel on Ethiopia stands ready to intensify efforts to facilitate cooperation and confidence-building measures.

The statement underscores the AU’s determination to ensure the full and effective implementation of the peace agreement, which has been seen as a cornerstone for stability in Ethiopia’s war-torn Tigray region.