Djibouti has called for de-escalation and dialogue as renewed fighting and political tensions in northern Ethiopia raise concerns over the durability of the peace settlement that ended the Tigray war in 2022.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Djibouti’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said it was following developments in Ethiopia with concern and urged the parties to resolve their differences through dialogue. Djibouti, which shares a border and longstanding economic ties with Ethiopia, said a return to conflict would be detrimental to Ethiopia’s development, regional stability and economic integration.
The intervention comes as fighting has intensified across parts of northern Ethiopia, particularly in and around Tigray, Amhara and Afar. The African Union Commission has reported the seizure of the civilian airports in Mekelle, Axum and Shire by forces aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), as well as fighting in southern Tigray and the Afar region. African Union statement on northern Ethiopia
The United Nations has likewise warned that the security situation is deteriorating, with hostilities spreading into neighbouring areas and disrupting humanitarian operations. UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called on all parties to exercise restraint, protect civilians and allow humanitarian organisations safe and unhindered access to affected communities. United Nations statement on Ethiopia
At the centre of diplomatic efforts is the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities, signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November 2022 between Ethiopia’s federal government and the TPLF under African Union mediation. The AU continues to regard the agreement as the principal framework for addressing the conflict and has called for the resumption of direct talks.
The latest escalation follows the formation of a broader alliance involving the TPLF and several Ethiopian armed and political groups. The coalition has declared its opposition to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, although its constituent groups have different political interests and longstanding disputes.
Ethiopia’s National Defence Force has said that 272 TPLF fighters were killed and 260 wounded during fighting in North Wollo. Those figures have not been independently verified, and information on casualties among federal forces and civilians remains incomplete.
The renewed violence is unfolding against the legacy of the 2020–2022 Tigray conflict, which caused extensive civilian suffering, displacement and disruption to communities across northern Ethiopia. Humanitarian concerns therefore extend beyond the immediate military confrontation to food security, displacement, access to healthcare and the protection of civilians.
For Djibouti and other countries in the Horn of Africa, the stakes extend beyond Ethiopia’s borders. The country’s transport corridors and ports are closely connected to Ethiopia’s economy, while instability in northern Ethiopia can affect trade, humanitarian access and wider regional security.
Djibouti’s appeal consequently adds to growing African and international calls for restraint, with the AU, IGAD and the United Nations all urging the parties to return to dialogue and preserve the gains made under the Pretoria process. IGAD call for de-escalation in northern Ethiopia
