TPLF urges African Union to act over “deteriorating” Tigray situation ahead of AU summit

The Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has urged African leaders to take “timely and coordinated action” to safeguard a fragile peace agreement in northern Ethiopia, warning of renewed instability and incomplete implementation of the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CHA).

In a letter addressed to Angolan President João Lourenço in his capacity as Chairperson of the African Union (AU), and to heads of state and government convening for the upcoming AU Summit, the TPLF said the situation in Tigray was “rapidly deteriorating” despite commitments made under the Pretoria peace process.

“Key provisions remain only partially implemented, while renewed military mobilization, rising tensions, and coercive measures risk reversing the hard-won gains toward peace,” the letter said.

The 2022 agreement, brokered by the AU in Pretoria, formally ended two years of conflict between Ethiopian federal forces and their allies and Tigrayan forces, a war that killed tens of thousands of people and displaced millions.

The TPLF said actions including “restrictions on movement, economic pressure and political exclusion” were undermining confidence in the peace process and increasing the risk of a relapse into conflict. It warned that instability in Tigray could have wider regional implications and affect the credibility of Africa’s conflict-resolution mechanisms.

The AU played a “central and historic role” in facilitating the peace talks and has a “political and moral responsibility” to ensure the agreement’s implementation, the TPLF said.

In its appeal, the party called on the AU to “publicly reaffirm the binding nature of the ceasefire agreement” and press all parties to implement it in full and in good faith. It also urged the bloc to strengthen monitoring and verification mechanisms, support the restoration of constitutional order, facilitate the safe return of displaced people and protect civilians.

The TPLF further called for the removal of measures it said were disproportionately affecting civilian livelihoods and humanitarian access, and for the urgent convening of structured political dialogue between the signatories to address the underlying drivers of the conflict.

“This is a critical juncture,” the letter said. “Delays or ambiguity risk allowing mistrust to deepen and instability to spread.”

Debretsion Gebremichael, head of the TPLF, recently stated that the party would respond if the Pretoria peace deal is violated or if it faces renewed attacks, rejecting suggestions that the group has “lost strength or unity.” He emphasized that the TPLF remains organized when it comes to “protecting its security and survival.” He also called on the African Union, the United States and the European Union to take practical steps, not just voice concern, to help preserve the fragile peace process.

The letter from the TPLF to the AU chair comes at a particularly sensitive and critical juncture in Ethiopia’s political landscape. Growing fears of renewed conflict between the Tigray region and federal forces have heightened tensions, with many observers warning that the fragile peace could unravel. The TPLF has recently raised alarm over reports of federal troop mobilizations toward Tigray, framing these movements as a potential precursor to another round of hostilities.

This correspondence to the AU chair highlights the TPLF’s attempt to draw continental attention to what it perceives as a looming threat. Against the backdrop of Ethiopia’s complex post-war recovery and ongoing mistrust between the federal government and Tigrayan leadership, the letter signals both a plea for intervention and a warning of the risks of escalation if preventive measures are not taken.