U.S. warns peace in Ethiopia is fraying

The chair of the U.S. House Foreign Affairs Committee Sen. Jim Risch on Tuesday warned that the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which halted the war in northern Ethiopia, “remains only partially implemented,” leaving the region unstable and justice for victims unresolved.

“Five years ago, one of this century’s deadliest wars erupted in northern Ethiopia. The U.S. helped stop the fighting, but the Pretoria agreement remains only partly fulfilled,” the chair said in a statement. “Tigray is still unstable, there is no justice for victims, and tensions with Eritrea continue.”

The statement from the committee chair came as European Union diplomats and several partner countries on Sunday marked the third anniversary of Ethiopia’s Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA).

In a joint statement, the EU Delegation in Ethiopia, together with the diplomatic missions of EU member states and Norway, said the 2022 deal between the federal government and Tigray forces had ended a “tragic and devastating conflict” and helped restore key services in the region.

The missions said they “commend the parties for silencing the guns” but stressed the need to further improve humanitarian access, advance disarmament efforts, and support people internally displaced by the war. They also called for continued implementation of post-conflict measures, including the reintegration of former combatants, protection of civilians, and preparations for future elections.

“Respect for human rights, particularly those of women and girls, and reconciliation remain essential for healing and delivering justice across all regions affected by conflict,” the group said.

These warnings come amid growing fears of renewed conflict in the region. The federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have been trading accusations for months.

In October, Ethiopia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs accused Eritrea of colluding with a hardline faction of the TPLF to destabilize the country and prepare for another war. In a letter to the United Nations, Ethiopia’s foreign minister alleged that Eritrea and TPLF hardliners are supporting Fano militias in the Amhara region, who have taken up arms against Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.

Eritrea, once a key ally of Abiy, now stands accused of waging a proxy war to prevent Ethiopian military operations near its border. TPLF leader Debretsion Gebremichael rejected the claims as fabrications, accusing the federal government of failing to uphold the 2022 Pretoria peace agreement. The TPLF has repeatedly said the government lacks the willingness to fully implement the deal.

During his latest appearance in parliament, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed accused the TPLF of diverting federal funds toward insurgency instead of reconstruction and development efforts in Tigray.

The Tigray war, which erupted in 2020 between the federal government and the TPLF, killed hundreds of thousands of people and displaced millions. The Pretoria agreement was reached in November 2022 to end the conflict. However, as accusations escalate from all sides, fears are rising that the country may once again be on the brink of war.