ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia – Amnesty International has called on the African Union (AU) to convene an emergency meeting on Ethiopia as renewed fighting in the north spreads across Tigray and parts of the neighbouring Afar and Amhara regions.
The rights organisation said the latest clashes, which began on September 21 between Tigrayan forces and their allies and the Ethiopian National Defence Force and its allies, have intensified, raising concerns that the conflict could spread further across Ethiopia and the wider region.
In a statement issued on Friday, Amnesty said it had received credible reports of civilian buildings being damaged or destroyed by shelling and airstrikes.
The organisation also reported increased forced recruitment and other acts that it said may violate international laws protecting civilians during armed conflict.
Amnesty Urges Urgent AU Action
Amnesty International’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah, said the AU Peace and Security Council should not wait for civilian casualties or mass atrocities to increase before addressing the situation.
“The African Union’s Peace and Security Council cannot wait for mass atrocities to unfold or for a surge in civilian casualties before placing Ethiopia, its host country, on the agenda,” Chagutah said.
He called for the council to urgently convene an emergency session on the deteriorating security situation.
Chagutah said the AU had a particular responsibility to act because it was among the guarantors of the 2022 ceasefire agreement that ended the main phase of fighting in Tigray.
He said the agreement had effectively collapsed and urged the AU to activate its response mechanisms and mobilise member states before the situation deteriorates further.
Communication Disruptions Raise Concern
Amnesty also expressed concern over disruptions to communication services in Tigray and parts of Afar and Amhara.
The organisation said the loss of communications could make it more difficult to document alleged abuses while also cutting civilians off from vital information and assistance.
“Disrupting communications in conflict-affected areas is a well-documented pattern in Ethiopia’s armed conflicts,” Chagutah said.
He said such restrictions had previously contributed to the isolation of civilians and made it harder to report alleged abuses.
Amnesty called for communication services to be restored and urged authorities to allow journalists, humanitarian organisations and human rights monitors to access areas affected by the fighting.
AU, IGAD And UN Urged To Act
The rights group also called on the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and the United Nations to increase efforts to protect civilians and support independent investigations into alleged violations by all sides.
Chagutah urged regional and international actors to address what Amnesty described as an accountability crisis in Ethiopia.
The organisation called for measures to protect civilians, renewed efforts to establish independent investigations into alleged serious violations committed by all parties, and unhindered access for journalists, humanitarian organisations and human rights monitors.
