The Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has expressed his deep concern about the worsening situation in northern Ethiopia, where in recent hours fighting has intensified in the Tigray region and in neighboring areas, with hostilities spreading to nearby zones.
According to what Guterres' spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, explained in an official statement disseminated on social media, one of the elements that generates the most concern is the takeover and occupation of the airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire, in a context of increasing violence and progressive deterioration of security.
In light of this resurgence of the conflict, the Secretary-General has urged all warring parties to de-escalate tensions immediately and to act "with maximum restraint" to prevent the confrontation from leading to a larger crisis.
The UN has also emphasized that the protection of the civilian population is a central priority and has called on all actors on the ground to facilitate the access of humanitarian organizations and partners, allowing them to move "safely and without obstacles" to assist those in need.
In the same vein, the organization has warned about the urgency of avoiding any action that could escalate the conflict and generate even more serious consequences for the local population and for the stability of the entire region.
At the same time, the Secretary-General has reiterated the support of the United Nations for the initiatives launched by the African Union to curb the escalation. Among them, he highlighted the work of former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, focused on reducing tensions and encouraging the parties to return to the path of dialogue.
In this context, the UN has again called for good faith negotiations to resume within the framework set by the Pretoria Agreement, considered the basis for efforts to move towards a negotiated solution to the crisis in Tigray.
Guterres' statements come after the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) announced this Wednesday the start of a "defensive war" against the federal forces of Ethiopia, following the outbreak of new fighting in Tigray, including the group's takeover of the airport in the regional capital, Mekelle, with central authorities not yet having provided an official assessment of the situation on the ground.