The African Union Commission has called on Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to exercise maximum restraint amid heightened tensions between the three countries, warning that further escalation could undermine regional peace and stability.
In a statement, the Commission said it was “closely following with concern” the developments and urged the three countries to avoid actions or statements that could worsen the situation.
“The Commission calls on all three Member States to exercise maximum restraint and refrain from actions or statements that could further escalate tensions and undermine regional peace and stability,” the AU said.
The Commission also urged Ethiopia, Eritrea and Egypt to maintain channels of communication and resolve their differences through diplomatic engagement.
It called on the countries to use established diplomatic channels and peaceful dialogue in line with the principles of the African Union Constitutive Act.
“The AU Commission stands ready, in consultation with the countries concerned, to support efforts towards de-escalation, dialogue and the peaceful resolution of differences,” the statement said.
The warning comes amid growing tensions in the Horn of Africa and the wider Red Sea region, where Ethiopia’s relations with Eritrea and Egypt have been shaped by competing security and strategic interests.
Ethiopia and Egypt have for years disagreed over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) on the Nile, while Ethiopia’s efforts to secure access to the Red Sea have added another layer to its relations with neighbouring Eritrea.
The AU did not identify specific actions or statements responsible for the latest escalation in its statement.
The Commission said preserving communication between the three countries was essential to preventing tensions from developing into a broader regional crisis.
The statement was issued by the office of Nuur Mohamud Sheekh, spokesperson for the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, in Addis Ababa.
