UN, AU ask Obasanjo to rescue Ethiopia’s peace deal as tensions rise

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Former President Olusegun Obasanjo

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The UN and AU have asked former President Olusegun Obasanjo to help pull Ethiopia back from renewed conflict as tensions threaten the peace agreement he helped broker in 2022.

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The two organisations reaffirmed “steadfast support” for Obasanjo’s renewed mediation and urged the parties to return immediately to direct talks under the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

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They warned that miscalculations in northern Ethiopia could trigger further escalation and destabilise the wider Horn of Africa.

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The position followed the 27th Consultative Meeting of the UN-AU Joint Task Force on Peace and Security in New York.

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Obasanjo, the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, led the mediation that produced the Pretoria peace agreement between Ethiopia’s Federal Government and Tigrayan forces in November 2022.

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With tensions rising again, the former Nigerian president is being relied upon to re-engage the parties, revive direct dialogue and prevent the hard-won agreement from unravelling.

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The UN and AU agreed to strengthen coordination behind his mediation and urged all sides to address outstanding disputes through good-faith dialogue rather than renewed hostilities.

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The AU delegation to the meeting was led by its Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, Amb. Bankole Adeoye.

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The UN side included Under-Secretaries-General Rosemary DiCarlo, Jean-Pierre Lacroix and Atul Khare, UN Special Representative to the AU Parfait Onanga-Anyanga and Assistant Secretary-General for Africa Martin Kimani.

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Beyond Ethiopia, the task force reviewed conflicts and political transitions in Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo.

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On Sudan, the organisations said there could be no viable military solution and called for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

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They rejected the establishment of any parallel government and urged an inclusive Sudanese dialogue leading towards civilian-led governance.

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The meeting also condemned external interference and military support fuelling the conflict.

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On Somalia, the task force reaffirmed support for the African Union Support and Stabilisation Mission and stressed the need for sustained international backing.

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Somali stakeholders were also urged to continue dialogue towards an inclusive agreement on elections.

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In eastern DRC, the UN and AU welcomed African, regional and international peace initiatives and called for an effective and permanent ceasefire.

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They also backed plans for an inclusive national dialogue capable of supporting lasting peace.

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In South Sudan, the meeting called for national consensus ahead of planned December elections and urged authorities to address outstanding gaps in preparations.

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The task force also reviewed broader UN-AU cooperation on conflict prevention, mediation, early warning, human rights and support for African-led peace operations.

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It highlighted the implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2719, which provides a framework for predictable financing of eligible AU-led peace support operations on a case-by-case basis.

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The meeting also welcomed new agreements on operational support and knowledge exchange signed during UNGA81.

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The next statutory meeting of the Joint Task Force will be hosted by the African Union Commission. (NAN)

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