African Union expresses 'deep concern' over crisis in Ethiopia's Tigray

The African Union said Friday that it was following events in the Ethiopian region of Tigray with "deep concern" as tensions between rival factions threatened a fragile peace agreement.

"The African Union (AU) has been closely monitoring the evolving situation within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) with deep concern," it said in a statement.

A peace agreement in 2022 ended a brutal two-year war between Tigrayan rebels and the federal government that claimed up to 600,000 lives, according to some estimates.

But a failure to fully implement the terms has fuelled divisions within the Tigrayan political elite and, combined with deteriorating ties between Ethiopia and neighbouring Eritrea has raised fears of a new conflict.

"The AU emphasises that adherence to the (2022 peace agreement) is crucial for maintaining the hard-won peace and fostering an environment conducive to sustainable peacebuilding, reconciliation and development," the statement said.