The United States has issued a stern warning regarding potential additional sanctions following a large-scale military offensive launched by the leadership of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in northern Ethiopia.
In an official statement released today, U.S. Ambassador to Ethiopia Ervin J. Massinga expressed deep disappointment over the decision by TPLF leaders to reject ongoing peace efforts and pursue a military escalation.
The offensive, launched on Wednesday, threatens the fragile peace that has held since the Pretoria Agreement formally ended the 2020–2022 civil war.
“I am disappointed to see the leadership of the TPLF, that the United States sanctioned earlier this year, make the poor decision to launch a large-scale offensive today,” Ambassador Massinga stated.
The renewed hostilities sharply undermine African Union-sponsored dialogue led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. Just weeks earlier, the U.S. and the European Union had jointly backed Obasanjo’s mediation efforts, expressing hope that his diplomatic engagement would help reduce tensions and address humanitarian needs in the region.
Stressing that the conflict yields no benefit to the population, Massinga cautioned other armed factions against joining the escalation.
While emphasizing that Washington retains the punitive tools necessary to target leaders pushing the nation toward further instability, the U.S. envoy underscored that a political settlement remains the only viable path forward.
“While the U.S. has tools to sanction additional leaders who try to push Ethiopia down the wrong path, I still believe a reasonable political dialogue is the right way to go,” Massinga said.
This latest flashpoint approaches the four-year milestone of the November 2022 Pretoria Agreement. The peace process, however, has faced persistent strains, with both sides repeatedly trading accusations of non-compliance. Tensions escalated sharply last month when the TPLF announced an alliance with seven other armed groups aimed at challenging Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s administration.
On Wednesday, September 23, 2026, Getachew Reda, Minister and Advisor to the Prime Minister on Eastern African Affairs, announced that TPLF forces had seized control of federally administered airports in Mekelle, Axum, and Shire. The development immediately forced Ethiopian Airlines to suspend all scheduled commercial flights to the region.
In response to the deteriorating security situation, African Union Commission Chairperson Mahmoud Ali Youssouf issued a statement urging “utmost restraint and immediate de-escalation.” He characterized the seizure of the airports as a direct contradiction of the Pretoria Agreement and called upon President Obasanjo to urgently re-engage the concerned parties.
