UN Secretary-General António Guterres speaks during a media briefing, as the United Nations addresses international security and diplomatic developments. Photo: UN

NNA News - The United Nations has called for restraint and renewed political dialogue in Ethiopia after seven armed and political groups announced an alliance opposed to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government, while renewed fighting and reported drone strikes have raised concerns over the durability of the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said on Monday that the United Nations was “deeply concerned” by the worsening security situation, including the formation of the new coalition and reports of continued insecurity and drone strikes. “At a time of heightened tensions, we urge all stakeholders to refrain from actions or that could further escalate the situation,” Dujarric said. He added: “We also urge them to recommit to dialogue.” “Military action will not resolve political differences or address underlying grievances,” Dujarric said, while reaffirming UN support for African Union-led efforts to reduce tensions and advance implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.

The Ethiopian Peoples’ Forces Alliance for Survival was announced on Sept. 20. The alliance includes the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, the Amhara Fano National Movement, the Oromo Liberation Army, the Ogaden National Liberation Front, the Afar Revolutionary Democratic Unity Front, the Benishangul Peoples’ Liberation Movement and the Gumuz Peoples’ Democratic Movement. Reuters reported that the groups remain divided on some territorial and political issues despite their common opposition to the federal government.

In its founding statement, the alliance said: “We, the peoples' forces concerned with the survival of Ethiopia's peoples, bear the historic responsibility of overthrowing this regime.” Reuters reported that the alliance said it sought to remove the Prosperity Party government and establish a transitional administration.

The Ethiopian government has accused the groups of receiving financial backing from Eritrea. Abiy’s spokesperson Billene Seyoum said the alliance had been collaborating before its public announcement. “The recent announcement is only attesting to what the Ethiopian government has been alleging time and again,” Seyoum said in a message cited by Reuters. Eritrea has previously denied similar accusations, and Reuters said Eritrea’s information minister did not immediately respond to its latest request for comment.

The renewed tensions are centred partly on Tigray, where federal and Tigrayan forces have reportedly been involved in skirmishes. Reuters, citing data from the Armed Conflict Location & Event Data project, reported several drone strikes against Tigrayan forces in recent months. The federal government has not publicly commented on those reported strikes, while the Ethiopian military said last week that nearly 300 Tigrayan fighters had surrendered.

The African Union has previously urged all parties to preserve the gains made under the Pretoria Agreement. In January, AU Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf called on the parties to “exercise maximum restraint” and “resolve all outstanding issues through constructive dialogue”, while reaffirming the AU’s support for full implementation of the agreement.

The EU and several partner governments issued a similar warning on Aug. 26, saying they were following developments in northern Ethiopia “with great concern” and that renewed military confrontation in Tigray would be “devastating” for a region already facing drought and significant humanitarian needs. They also backed renewed consultations by AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa Olusegun Obasanjo.

Obasanjo’s mediation has itself faced criticism from Tigrayan officials. His office rejected allegations of bias on Sept. 7, saying: “The facts say otherwise.” It added that claims that his actions had been subordinated to one stakeholder “fundamentally misrepresents both the nature of his mandate and the conduct of his engagements so far.”

The latest developments have therefore placed the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement and AU-led mediation under renewed scrutiny, with the UN, AU and international partners continuing to call for dialogue rather than further military escalation.