Panafrican News Agency

Ethiopian crisis: US special envoy for Horn of Africa to travel to Ethiopia and the region

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Mike Hammer, will travel to Ethiopia and the region frm 4-15 September, as fighting flared up between the Ethiopian government and the regional force of the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF).

A statement by the US State Department on Friday said he would press for an immediate cessation of hostilities and the start of peace talks.

In addition to meetings with Ethiopian government and African Union  (AU) officials, Mr. Hammer will meet with civil society and political actors representing different regions of the country to discuss how best to promote efforts towards a lasting peace, security, and prosperity for all people in Ethiopia.

"The United States is committed to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ethiopia," the statement said.

This is the latest round of conflict between both sides since the initial start of the war in November 2020.  

A senior Ethiopian National Defence Force member, Major General Tesfaye Ayalew, said the TPLF group launched attacks last week on the eastern front in Bisober, Zobel Mountain, and Wetwet.

He said with these attacks the group had violated the ceasefire and its combatants were "suffering from the huge fire of the security forces". 

-0- PANA MA 3Sept2022