The African Union Commission (AUC) on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, called for an immediate de-escalation and direct talks between Ethiopia’s Federal government and forces from the northern Tigray region.
The appeal followed an offensive by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), which seized airports in Mekelle, Shire and Axum. Ethiopian Airlines subsequently suspended flights to the three cities.
Tigray’s regional government said the offensive was in response to air, drone and artillery attacks allegedly carried out by federal forces on Tuesday, September 22, 2026. The Ethiopian government had not commented on the latest clashes.
The AUC also urged Ethiopia’s neighbouring countries to avoid actions that could worsen the conflict and instead support dialogue and confidence-building efforts.
The renewed fighting threatens the Pretoria Peace Agreement, which ended the 2020–2022 civil war that killed an estimated 600,000 people. Tensions began rising again in late 2025, while about one million people remain displaced and several provisions of the peace agreement have yet to be implemented.