UN chief says he is gravely concerned by renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia

10 October 2026

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called for an immediate end to the renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia. The statement was issued on Friday night in New York by his Spokesperson, Stephane Dujarric. Guterres said he was deeply worried by reports that Eritrean forces are present in Ethiopia and urged the signatories of the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended the civil war in Tigray, to return to dialogue under its framework. He said the fighting in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions risks escalating in ways that would further destabilise the wider region. He reminded all States in the region of their Charter obligation to refrain from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, and of the principle of non-interference in internal affairs. UN humanitarian affairs chief Tom Fletcher asked all parties to give aid workers safe and rapid access, and the UN said verified displacement figures are not yet available. In Amhara, a government-led effort to help displaced people return from the town of Kobo has been suspended after security there deteriorated. In a letter to the Security Council, Ethiopia's foreign minister said Eritrean troops had advanced up to 60 kilometres into the region, a claim Eritrea rejected.