UN secretary-general António Guterres has backed former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s renewed peace initiative in Ethiopia amid rising security tensions in the country’s northern part.

Mr Guterres urged all parties to support Mr Obasanjo’s consultations and use the initiative to resolve outstanding differences threatening Ethiopia’s fragile peace.

UN spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric said this while briefing UN correspondents at UN Headquarters in New York.

Mr Dujarric said the UN chief was concerned about recent reports of security incidents and heightened tensions in northern Ethiopia.

“The secretary-general is concerned by recent reports of security incidents and heightened tensions in northern Ethiopia,” he said.

According to him, Guterres stressed the need for restraint and preservation of gains recorded since the cessation of large-scale hostilities.

“He underscores the importance of maintaining calm and sustaining progress towards lasting peace,” Mr Dujarric said.

The UN chief particularly welcomed the renewed diplomatic intervention of Mr Obasanjo, the African Union’s high representative for the Horn of Africa.

“He welcomes the renewed efforts of the African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa, former president of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo,” Mr Dujarric said.

The renewed engagement includes consultations Mr Obasanjo held in Addis Ababa and Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region.

Mr Dujarric said Guterres considered the consultations an opportunity to reinvigorate dialogue and resolve issues still outstanding under the peace process.

“That includes the recent consultations by Obasanjo in Addis Ababa and in Tigray province,” he said. “The secretary-general urges all parties to support this initiative and take this opportunity to advance dialogue on outstanding issues.”

Mr Obasanjo played a central role in negotiating the landmark peace agreement that ended two years of devastating conflict between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan forces.

The agreement, formally known as the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, was signed in Pretoria on November 2, 2022.

It followed AU-led negotiations facilitated by Mr Obasanjo, alongside former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.

The accord provided for a permanent cessation of hostilities, restoration of constitutional order, humanitarian access, disarmament and the restoration of federal authority and essential services.

Mr Obasanjo’s renewed consultations come amid concerns that unresolved political and security questions could undermine progress made since the Pretoria agreement.

The UN chief warned parties against inflammatory actions or statements that could deepen mistrust or trigger renewed confrontation.

The latest intervention underscores international concern about preserving stability in Tigray and preventing northern Ethiopia from sliding back into armed conflict.

(NAN)