AU Calls for Immediate Talks as Tigray Forces Seize Key Airports in Ethiopia.

The African Union has called for immediate de-escalation and direct talks after renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia and the seizure of three civilian airports by Tigrayan forces. The African Union Commission said the developments around Mekelle, Axum and Shire risk undermining the fragile peace achieved after the 2020–2022 Tigray war.

AUC Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf expressed deep concern over the occupation of the airports, the detention of federal personnel by the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and the disruption of civilian air services. He urged all parties to exercise maximum restraint and immediately stop actions that could widen the confrontation.

Tigray’s Airport Seizures Raise Fresh Security Concerns.

The latest escalation centres on three airports in Tigray. The AU specifically identified Mekelle, Axum and Shire, while Ethiopian Airlines suspended scheduled flights to the three destinations because of the deteriorating security situation.

The developments come amid renewed military activity between Tigrayan and federal forces. Reports indicate that fighting has also intensified in parts of South Tigray and the Afar region, raising concerns that the confrontation could spread beyond Tigray.

The renewed violence is particularly significant because it threatens the peace process established after the devastating Tigray conflict. The war ended with the Pretoria Agreement, signed on November 2, 2022, under AU auspices.

AU Pushes for a Return to the Pretoria Agreement.

Youssouf said the Pretoria Agreement remains the foundation for achieving lasting peace, stability and reconciliation in Ethiopia. The AU considers the seizure and occupation of the airports inconsistent with commitments made under that agreement.

The AUC chairperson has therefore called for the immediate resumption of direct talks between the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF within the framework of the Pretoria Agreement.

The AU has also asked neighbouring countries to avoid actions that could contribute to further escalation and instead support dialogue, confidence-building and de-escalation.

Former Nigerian President Asked to Help.

The African Union is also preparing to intensify its diplomatic engagement. Youssouf has asked Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian president and the AU’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, to urgently engage the parties.

Obasanjo played a central role in the diplomatic efforts that helped bring the previous Tigray war to an end. The AU now wants him to support renewed negotiations and efforts to protect the existing peace process.

Ethiopia Faces Another Dangerous Moment.

The latest crisis comes only days after seven Ethiopian armed groups, including the TPLF and the Amhara Fano movement, announced an alliance aimed at removing Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government. The alliance brings together groups that previously fought on opposing sides during the Tigray war.

That development has added another layer to Ethiopia’s already complex security situation. The federal government has accused the new alliance of receiving external support, a claim that has been denied by Eritrea.

For the AU, the immediate priority is preventing the renewed confrontation from developing into a broader conflict. Its latest appeal is centred on restoring direct dialogue, protecting civilians and preserving the gains made since the Pretoria Agreement.

With airports closed, military tensions rising and new political and armed alliances emerging, Ethiopia’s Tigray region is once again at the centre of a major regional security concern.