AU steps up diplomacy to ease Ethiopia-Eritrea tensions
Ambassador Bankole Adeoye calls for implementation of peace agreements and warns against escalation.
The African Union (AU) has intensified diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea. AU Commissioner Bankole Adeoye stated the continental body is engaging leaders in both nations to prevent a full-blown crisis in the Horn of Africa. The AU is working to re-energize the Algiers and Pretoria Agreements, which address relations between Ethiopia and Eritrea and the conflict in Tigray, respectively.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, the AU Chairperson’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, is conducting consultations and shuttle diplomacy. Adeoye emphasized the AU's commitment to peace and collective security, condemning external interference that prolongs African conflicts. The AU Commission will continue engaging all parties to prevent the situation from developing into a full-scale crisis.
The AU is also strengthening its continent-wide approach to peacebuilding, focusing on conflict prevention. Leaders adopted new mechanisms in Luanda in August 2026 to identify emerging threats and address underlying causes, including climate shocks and geopolitical rivalries. The AU aims to advance Agenda 2063, envisioning a peaceful and prosperous continent.
Why it mattersEthiopia's relations with Eritrea and the internal Tigray conflict are being addressed through AU diplomacy.