By Michael Oche
The African Regional Organisation of the International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC-Africa) has called for urgent diplomatic action to de-escalate rising tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, warning that Africa cannot afford another war in the Horn of Africa.
In a strongly worded statement signed by its General Secretary, Akhator Joel Odigie, ITUC-Africa expressed grave concern over the growing hostilities between the two neighbouring countries, warning that the situation could spiral into a full-scale military conflict with devastating consequences for the region.
“These rising hostilities carry the ominous risk of a return to full-scale military confrontation—one that could devastate millions of lives and livelihoods across the Horn of Africa and beyond,” the statement issued from its Lomé office on Friday, July 25 read.
Odigie noted that as a pan-African trade union movement committed to protecting and defending human and trade union rights and contributing to peace security, and democratic resilience, ITUC-Africa’s statement is both a warning and a call to action.
“We see the early warning signs, and we refuse to be silent,” he said.
The trade union body cited multiple credible sources, including The New York Times, Al Jazeera, Chatham House, and Reuters, that have reported a dangerous military buildup and rising rhetoric between Ethiopia and Eritrea—moves that threaten to unravel the fragile peace achieved through the 2022 Pretoria Agreement, which ended the Tigray conflict.
The Horn of Africa, Odigie noted, is already beset by active conflicts in Somalia, Sudan, Oromia, and the Amhara region of Ethiopia.
Citing Chatham House, the ITUC-Africa General Secretary pointed out that the economic losses caused by these conflicts have exceeded half a trillion US dollars, with civilians, especially women, youth, and displaced populations suffering the worst consequences in terms of famine, forced migration, and human rights violations.
“Africa cannot afford another war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. And it cannot ignore the spreading fire in Sudan,” he said.
He added that, “As African workers, we insist on diplomacy, solidarity, dialogue, and respect for life, rights, and dignity.”
Odigie reaffirmed ITUC-Africa’s solidarity with the Horn of Africa Confederation of Trade Unions (HACTU) and other affiliates in the region, stressing that peace and security are prerequisites for development and decent work.
“In the spirit of Pan Africanism and human solidarity, we urge out regional bodies and international partners to act now, not later. Preventing renewed fighting between Ethiopia and Eritrea is not only a strategic necessity, but also the most urgent moral, political, and legal imperative before us,” the statement added.
The regional organisation therefore urged that the governments of Ethiopia and Eritrea engage in dialogue rather than military confrontation. It also urged that the African Union deploy preventive diplomacy mechanisms to avert conflict.
ITUC-Africa further called on the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) and other regional blocs take a leadership role in convening urgent mediation talks.
“We call on the international development community, including the United Nations, multilateral and bilateral partners, should support regionally led preventive diplomacy through technical, financial, and political means,” the statement added.
