Secretary-General of the United Nations (UN), António Guterres, has urged an immediate ceasefire in Ethiopia’s conflict-hit Tigray region.
He made the call in an interview with journalists, describing the humanitarian conditions in Tigray as “hellish”.
In his televised interview in New York monitored by African Entertainment, Mr Guterres stated that aid agencies needed unrestricted access to the Tigray region.
Ethiopian Government forces and rebel fighters have been locked in conflict in Tigray since November 2020.
Speaking during the interview, Mr Guterres condemned the use of sexual violence against women in Ethiopia as a weapon of war.
He stated that there could be no military resolution to the fighting.
The UN chief explained that “conditions must be created to allow for the start of an Ethiopian-led political dialogue to find a solution for the crisis”.
“Such a dialogue can contribute to addressing the underlying causes of the conflict and ensure Ethiopian voices direct the pathway to peace, ” according to him.
