Ethiopia|Forum of Horn Vision"HAPC"

Saturday|June13,2026

In a new attempt to break the political and security deadlock in the Tigray region, former Nigerian President and African Union Special Representative Olusegun Obasanjo, led a delegation that included international envoys to the city of Mekelle, where crucial talks were held with the leader of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, Debretsion Qabrmichael.

These moves come amid regional and international concern over military actions on the ground, and escalating calls for restraint and preservation of peace gains.

Agenda for the Talks: Urgent Steps to Prevent a Slide Towards Tension:

According to information issued by the office of the President of the Tigray region regarding the visit that took place on June 11, the discussions focused on key issues, most notably the comprehensive assessment and careful review of the level of implementation of the “ Pretoria Peace Agreement ” signed in November 2022 , with the search for immediate mechanisms to prevent the recurrence of armed conflict and contain worrying security indicators, in addition to discussing political and security developments in the region against the backdrop of local reports.

The Tigray Leadership’s Position: Demands and Reservations:

Ambassador Adesalem Palma , who participated in the meetings, said that the region’s representatives conveyed to the African envoy their vision of the current crisis, which, according to him, was summarized as follows: ” The Tigray leadership affirmed its commitment to the path of dialogue and negotiation to resolve outstanding issues, but at the same time it noted what it considered to be ongoing violations of the Pretoria Agreement and continuous restrictions imposed on the region”.

The Tigrayan side also focused on the most pressing humanitarian issues, including taking practical and serious steps to address the escalating humanitarian and security challenges, with immediate attention to the issue of internally displaced persons and refugees, as well as highlighting the difficult humanitarian conditions in areas that are still outside the control of the region’s local authorities.

The International Situation and Current Efforts:

For his part, Olusegun Obasanjo expressed cautious optimism, describing the talks as “constructive” ,and indicated that the main objective of these rounds is to reduce the current escalation and create a favorable environment that ensures sustainable stability in the region.

In a related context, regional and international partners, led by the African Union, the United States, and the European Union, continue to press for full compliance with the terms of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, while urging all parties to exercise maximum restraint and resolve political disputes through diplomatic channels to ensure the stability of the Horn of Africa.

Background on the  Pretoria Agreement“:

The historic ceasefire agreement was signed in November 2022 between the Ethiopian Federal Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front , ending a bloody two-year conflict.

The agreement legally stipulates a permanent cessation of hostilities, disarmament, restoration of basic services, respect for the constitution, and the establishment of a comprehensive political framework for the post-conflict phase.