UN Secretary-General António Guterres has expressed grave concern over renewed fighting across northern Ethiopia and called on all parties to halt hostilities immediately, his spokesman said. The appeal comes as the first humanitarian aid convoy since the latest outbreak of violence reached Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, on Thursday.

The UN Secretary-General's Appeal

Spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement that Guterres is 'gravely concerned by the renewed fighting in the Tigray, Afar and Amhara regions of Ethiopia.' The UN chief called on all parties to 'cease hostilities immediately' and urged the signatories to return to dialogue under the framework of the Pretoria Agreement, the landmark peace deal that had previously brought a halt to fighting in the region.

Guterres also warned of escalation risks that could further destabilise the broader region. His statement reminded all states in the region of their obligations under the United Nations Charter 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. He called on all states with influence over the parties to actively support de-escalation and said he stands ready to offer his good offices.

First Aid Convoy Reaches Tigray

In a significant development on the humanitarian front, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) confirmed on Friday that the first convoy of aid trucks and humanitarian personnel has reached the Tigray region since hostilities resumed. A convoy of four World Food Programme (WFP) trucks carrying 90 metric tons of supplies to treat acute malnutrition arrived in Mekelle via the Semera-Abala corridor in the neighbouring Afar region.

Food aid distribution in Tigray had also resumed earlier in the week, according to OCHA. Humanitarian workers who had been stranded in Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, and in Semera in the Afar region, have also reached Mekelle, helping sustain life-saving relief operations.

Urgent Needs Still Unmet

Despite the convoy's arrival, OCHA stressed that far more humanitarian supplies and emergency assistance are urgently needed. Fighting erupted on 1 August in Tigray, near the border with Eritrea, triggering a fresh humanitarian crisis in a region already scarred by years of conflict. 'Once again, the UN stresses the need to protect civilians and ensure continued access to critical assistance, including functioning health facilities,' the office said.

This comes amid concerns that the Pretoria Agreement — signed in November 2022 to end a devastating two-year war — is fraying under the pressure of renewed military activity. The agreement had been seen as a fragile but meaningful step toward lasting peace in one of Africa's most protracted modern conflicts.

What Happens Next

The international community is watching closely whether the parties will heed the UN's call and return to the Pretoria framework. Guterres's offer of good offices signals that the UN is prepared to play a more active mediating role if diplomatic conditions allow. Meanwhile, humanitarian agencies warn that access corridors remain vulnerable and that a fresh escalation could once again cut off millions from life-saving aid.