UN chief ‘gravely concerned’ by renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, warns against escalation

UN Secretary-General António Guterres has called for an immediate end to the renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia, saying he is deeply worried by reports that Eritrean forces are present in the country.In a statement issued on Friday night in New York by his Spokesperson, Stéphane Dujarric, the UN chief urged all parties to cease hostilities and called on the signatories of the Pretoria Agreement to return to dialogue under its framework. The 2022 accord ended the civil war in Tigray.Risk of destabilisationMr. Guterres said the fighting in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions risks escalating in ways that would further destabilise the wider region.He reminded all States in the region of their Charter obligation to “refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State”, and of the principle of non-interference in internal affairs.He also appealed to countries with influence over the parties to use it to support de-escalation, and to avoid any action that could fuel the conflict. The Secretary-General said he stands ready to offer his good offices.Many uprooted, aid on holdThe UN’s humanitarian affairs chief, Tom Fletcher, c...