Amnesty Urges AU Emergency Session as Fighting Expands in Northern Ethiopia

Amnesty International has officially called on the African Union (AU) Peace and Security Council to convene an emergency session regarding the situation in Ethiopia. This call comes as renewed and intensified fighting spreads across the Tigray region as well as parts of the Afar and Amhara regions. The human rights organization warned of escalating risks to civilian populations and potential violations of international law due to the expanding military confrontations. In a statement released on Thursday, Amnesty highlighted that it has received credible reports detailing severe damage to civilian infrastructure caused by artillery shelling and airstrikes. Furthermore, the report pointed to an intensification of forced conscription and other actions that may breach international humanitarian and human rights laws. The organization emphasizes the urgent need for regional diplomatic intervention to protect vulnerable populations from further harm.