U.S. official calls for calm in Horn of Africa

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio urged restraint in the Horn of Africa as clashes continue in northern Ethiopia and relations with Eritrea worsen. In a phone call with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, Rubio emphasized the need for dialogue under the 2018 peace agreement between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

Peace agreement faces challenges

The renewed fighting in Ethiopia’s Tigré region has undermined the 2022 peace deal, which ended a two-year conflict. Ethiopia claims Eritrean forces have occupied parts of its territory, while Eritrea accuses Ethiopia of launching a war against it.

Civilian casualties reported

Human Rights Watch reported civilian deaths and injuries from bombings in southern Tigré, according to Laetitia Bader, the organization’s deputy director for Africa. She also noted that attacks have caused some health facilities to close and called for independent monitoring and safe access for aid workers.

Eritrean forces withdraw

A resident near the Ethiopia-Eritrea border reported that Eritrean soldiers had left the town of Fatsi, about 20 kilometers from the Ethiopian city of Zalambessa, on Monday. This marks a potential shift in the military situation along the contested border.