ሕቡራት ሃገራት፡ ኢትዮጵያ ናብ ምሉእ ውግእ ከይትምለስ ኣጠንቂቑ

The Ethiopian Human Rights Commission said armed fighting in northern Ethiopia poses severe human rights risks. Chief Commissioner Birhanu Adelo expressed grave concern over the flare-up, citing clashes along the borders of Tigray, Amhara and Afar, including the Wag Hemra Zone border areas and Lasta Woreda in North Wollo, as well as forced youth conscription in Tigray and restrictions on freedom of expression. The commission said these communities are still recovering from previous conflicts, meaning fresh hostilities will compound human rights vulnerabilities, and called for an immediate halt to hostilities, peaceful dialogue and strict protection of civilians.

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on 27 September that it condemns the military escalation against Ethiopian federal forces, calling it "a serious threat to the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, as well as to security and stability in the Horn of Africa". It called for an immediate cessation of the escalation and hostilities, the protection of civilians and adherence to the Pretoria Peace Agreement, and reaffirmed its support for all efforts to de-escalate and to resolve disputes through dialogue.

The UAE Minister of State, Sheikh Shakhboot bin Nahyan Al Nahyan, expressed "full solidarity with the government and people of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia" and rejected any attempt to alter Ethiopia's constitutional order through force or armed action, the state news agency WAM reported. He called for an immediate cessation of hostilities, the protection of civilians and adherence to the Pretoria peace agreement.

African Union Commission chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf said he was gravely concerned by escalating hostilities in the Tigray and Afar regions and called for "utmost restraint and immediate cessation of all actions" that could escalate tensions. He said the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement "remains the cornerstone of sustainable peace, stability and reconciliation in Ethiopia", and that the seizure of the civilian airports at Mekelle, Axum and Shire by Tigray forces "is inconsistent with the commitments and obligations" under it. He urged neighbouring countries to refrain from actions that could contribute to further escalation and to support de-escalation and dialogue.

Japan's Foreign Ministry condemned the TPLF's military actions, including the seizure of regional airports, and said it was deeply concerned that the situation in northern Ethiopia has been deteriorating since 23 September. The ministry said the 2022 Pretoria Agreement must be upheld, reaffirmed support for African Union-led mediation, and called on all parties "to refrain from actions that could aggravate the conflict" and to ensure humanitarian access to affected populations.

UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said he was deeply alarmed by the escalation in Ethiopia and urged the parties to de-escalate immediately to avoid a return to full-scale war. The UN Human Rights Office said Ethiopian airstrikes hit five schools in Tigray on 22 September.