IGAD Warns Renewed Northern Ethiopia Conflict Threatens Regional Stability

The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has called for an immediate de-escalation of renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, warning that a return to full-scale conflict could trigger severe consequences across the region.

In a statement issued from Djibouti, IGAD expressed deep concern over reports of escalating hostilities, the seizure of civilian airports, and the disruption of commercial air travel in the area.

The regional bloc urged all involved parties to immediately cease military action, exercise maximum restraint, and avoid steps that endanger civilian lives or compromise ongoing peace efforts.

IGAD stressed that the Pretoria Agreement—signed on Nov. 2, 2022, to end the two-year war between the Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF)—remains the sole legitimate framework for resolving outstanding disputes. It called on both sides to fully honor their commitments under the deal.

Additionally, the organization urged direct dialogue without delay and cautioned neighboring nations against any actions that could exacerbate tensions.

The statement reinforces a growing wave of international diplomatic pressure, joining recent calls for restraint from the African Union, the European Union, and the United States as fighting spreads beyond the Tigray region.