United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning this week about escalating tensions in Ethiopia's Tigray region, cautioning that renewed clashes threaten to unravel a fragile peace agreement signed over three years ago. The warning comes amid reports of localized violence and deteriorating security in areas still recovering from Africa's deadliest 21st-century conflict.
Through deputy spokesman Farhan Haq, Guterres emphasized the UN's deep concern about civilian safety and the potential for broader destabilization. "Recent gains remain vulnerable," Haq stated, urging full implementation of the 2022 Pretoria peace accord brokered by the African Union.
The Tigray conflict, which formally concluded in late 2022 after displacing millions and triggering famine conditions, pitted Ethiopia's federal government against forces aligned with the Tigray People's Liberation Front. While humanitarian access has improved since 2023, reconstruction efforts have been hampered by delayed disarmament and political disputes.
Analysts note that current tensions stem from unresolved territorial claims and delayed implementation of transitional justice mechanisms. The UN chief called for urgent confidence-building measures between former adversaries, offering UN support for African Union-led stabilization initiatives.
This development comes as international donors reassess reconstruction funding priorities for the Horn of Africa, with the World Bank reporting only 38% of pledged recovery funds disbursed to date. Humanitarian organizations warn that renewed conflict could collapse fragile healthcare and food systems rebuilt since 2023.
