The African Union has intensified its diplomatic efforts to reduce tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, warning against an escalation into a full-blown crisis in the Horn of Africa. Ambassador Bankole Adeoye, the AU Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, stated that the continental body is engaging leaders and stakeholders in both countries to prevent further deterioration of relations.
The AU is working to re-energize the implementation of the Algiers Agreement and the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the fighting between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. Adeoye emphasized that the obligations contained in both agreements should guide diplomatic efforts to ensure peace in the Horn of Africa.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, serving as the AU Chairperson’s High Representative for the Horn of Africa, is conducting consultations and shuttle diplomacy to reduce tensions in the region. The AU Commission will continue engaging all parties to prevent the situation from developing into a full-scale crisis.
Adeoye condemned external interference in African conflicts, arguing that it often prolongs crises. He emphasized the importance of collective security and called for an end to external interference. The AU does not take sides in political disputes but supports peace and inclusive processes involving all relevant actors.
The African Union is strengthening its continent-wide approach to peacebuilding, with a greater emphasis on preventing conflicts rather than managing them after they erupt. African leaders adopted new mechanisms to improve the AU’s capacity to identify emerging threats and address their underlying causes in Luanda, Angola, in August 2026.
The new mechanisms include a trigger mechanism to identify potential conflicts and an assessment tool to strengthen the work of AU conflict analysts. Adeoye stated that these mechanisms will help the organization better understand the structural drivers of conflicts, including climate shocks, technological developments, and geopolitical rivalries.
The AU is also supporting political transitions in several countries, including South Sudan, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, and Madagascar, in cooperation with international partners. The organization is reviewing its Silencing the Guns agenda, with a new report expected to inform discussions at the next AU summit.
Key points
- The African Union has renewed its diplomatic efforts to ease tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea.
- The AU is working to re-energize the implementation of the Algiers Agreement and the Pretoria Agreement.
- The organization is strengthening its continent-wide approach to peacebuilding, with a greater emphasis on preventing conflicts.
