The development comes against the backdrop of a deadly conflict in Tigray from 2020 to 2022 between government forces and separatist Tigray forces, due to rising tensions between national and regional authorities.
That conflict – in which Eritrean soldiers reportedly participated – would have killed tens of thousands of civilians and uprooted more than two million, of whom a million are still internally displaced today.
Intensification of fighting
According to the UN Human Rights Office (OHCHRIn the latest escalation, clashes between the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and the Tigray Regional Security Forces (TSF) intensified on January 26 close to the Amhara border. The TSF withdrew from the Tselemti area on February 1, OHCHR said.
“Drones, artillery and other powerful weapons were used by both sides,” Mr Türk said in a statement. “Citizens are once again caught between escalating tensions, with both TSF and ENDF reportedly making arrests over alleged links to the opposing side. This has to stop”, he insisted.
Meanwhile, in southern and southeastern Tigray, near the Afar border, clashes between the TSF and the “Tigray Peace Forces,” a rival faction, continue unabated, the High Commissioner noted.
“Both sides must distance themselves from the abyss and try to resolve their differences through political meanshe said. “Alleged serious violations or abuses must be promptly and independently investigated, regardless of the perpetrators.”
Serious consequences
Briefing journalists in Geneva, the High Commissioner’s spokesperson Ravina Shamdasani warned that new clashes could break out “at any time” with serious consequences for civilians. She highlighted his call for all parties to recommit to the Pretoria Agreement, which calls for an end to hostilities, signed in 2022.
The hostile parties should also ensure the return of internally displaced persons to their homes, among other confidence-building measures, Ms. Shamdasani continued.
“This was something that was part of the agreement, but it didn’t go as smoothly as it should have,” she noted.
The High Commissioner also warned that recent tensions between Ethiopia and neighboring Eritrea risk exacerbating already serious human rights and humanitarian challenges in both countries and in the broader Horn of Africa.
“There are reports of the presence of Eritrean troops and increased tensions between these two countries”, said Ms Shamdasani, pointing to “differences…especially regarding the situation in Tigray”.
She added: “We call for these differences to be resolved through political dialogue and not to resort to violence. We all saw what happened in 2020, 2021, when there was a large-scale conflict in the Tigray region, which led to the fact that we still do not know how many deaths… We cannot afford a return to that situation.”
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