The president’s remarks came hours after Tigrayan forces launched a major offensive from the northern region, an action the TPLF framed as a defensive war against what it described as federal aggression.
Speaking to the 193‑member UN body, Amde condemned “reckless external actors” and urged all “forces of destruction and mayhem” to respect the “sacred right” of the Horn of Africa’s peoples to live in peace and prosperity, while calling for an end to interference in Ethiopia’s internal affairs.
The renewed hostilities follow months of escalating animosity between the TPLF and the federal government, raising concerns that the conflict could spill over into a broader regional war and undo the fragile stability achieved by the 2020 peace agreement.
Amde emphasized that, despite the escalation, Ethiopia had restrained its response, positioning the country as a responsible actor seeking to protect regional stability while confronting what it called external meddling.
The UN General Assembly listened as Ethiopia highlighted its restraint, and the international community now watches the crisis for possible diplomatic or humanitarian interventions.