Amnesty International has called on the African Union to convene an emergency session on Ethiopia as renewed fighting in Tigray and parts of the Afar and Amhara regions intensifies, warning that the conflict could lead to mass atrocities and a surge in civilian casualties.
The latest fighting, which began on September 21, has reportedly spread across southern Tigray, northern Amhara, and western Afar, involving Tigrayan forces, Amhara Fano forces, and the Oromo Liberation Army fighting against the Ethiopian Federal Government.
The rights group said it has received credible reports of civilian infrastructure being destroyed by shelling and airstrikes, intensified forced conscription, and other acts that may violate international humanitarian and human rights law.
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“The African Union’s Peace and Security Council cannot wait for mass atrocities to unfold or for a surge in civilian casualties,” said Tigere Chagutah, Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, urging the Council to urgently place Ethiopia on its agenda and activate its response mechanisms.
Amnesty also warned that the conflict risks becoming regionalized, reiterating its call for an emergency session as concerns grow over wider regional tensions.
The rights group separately called for communication services to be restored in conflict-affected areas, warning that disruptions could isolate civilians, restrict access to information and humanitarian assistance, and hinder independent monitoring of potential abuses. It also urged the AU, IGAD, and the United Nations to strengthen efforts to protect civilians, reinstate independent investigations, and ensure unhindered access for journalists, humanitarian organizations, and human rights monitors.
Meanwhile, the African Union Commission has separately urged Ethiopia, Eritrea, and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions or statements that could further escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability, while calling for continued diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue.
