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AUC chief urges de-escalation amid renewed military confrontation in Ethiopia

By Xinhua
On 25 August 2022 at 01:25

ADDIS ABABA, Aug. 24 (Xinhua) — Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on Wednesday expressed deep concern over reports of renewed military confrontation in Ethiopia and urged de-escalation.

"The chairperson strongly calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urges the parties to resume talks to seek a peaceful solution," the AU said in a statement issued Wednesday evening.

Faki reiterated the African Union’s continued commitment to working with the parties in support of a consensual political process in the interest of the country, the statement said.

Earlier on Wednesday, the Ethiopian government accused the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of resuming fighting.

In a statement, the Ethiopian Government Communications Service said the rebel group started fresh attacks on different positions in the eastern front early Wednesday morning, particularly in Bisober, Zobil and Tekulesh.

It said the move by the rebel group demonstrates its stance against any potential peace process.

The TPLF, on the other hand, accused the federal government of starting the attack on its forces, an accusation rejected by the government, describing it as a pretext by the rebel group "to continue its warmongering behavior."

Humanitarian aid flow only resumed recently to the Tigray region after the federal government and rebel forces agreed to a conditional cessation of hostilities and unhindered delivery of humanitarian aid into the region.

Ethiopia, Africa’s second most populous nation, has seen a devastating conflict between government troops and forces loyal to the rebel TPLF since November 2020, which left millions in urgent need of humanitarian assistance.


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