Nigeria: UN, AU Ask Obasanjo to Rescue Ethiopia's Peace Deal As Tensions Rise

What the report says

The UN and African Union have asked former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to help prevent Ethiopia’s peace process from unraveling as tensions rise again in the country’s north. The request was reiterated after the 27th Consultative Meeting of the UN-AU Joint Task Force on Peace and Security in New York, according to Vanguard via AllAfrica. The two bodies said they support Obasanjo’s renewed mediation effort and want the parties to return to direct talks under the existing Cessation of Hostilities agreement.

Obasanjo played a central role in broker­ing the 2022 Pretoria peace deal between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan forces. The article says the UN and AU are concerned that miscalculations could lead to renewed conflict and broader instability in the Horn of Africa. They also urged all sides to handle unresolved disputes through dialogue rather than violence, and said they would strengthen coordination around Obasanjo’s efforts.

The meeting also reviewed other African crises, including Sudan, Somalia, South Sudan and eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo. On Sudan, the UN and AU again said there is no military solution and called for an immediate ceasefire and inclusive political dialogue. The article presents the Ethiopia appeal as part of broader regional diplomacy aimed at preventing new escalation and supporting African-led peace efforts.