Qatar condemns military escalation against Ethiopian federal forces

Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Sunday, September 27, 2026, condemned the military escalation against Ethiopian federal forces. It called the escalation a serious threat to the unity and sovereignty of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and to security and stability in the Horn of Africa.

In a statement issued in Doha, the ministry called for an immediate end to the escalation and hostilities and for the protection of civilians. It also urged all parties to adhere to the Pretoria Peace Agreement.

The Ethiopian federal government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) signed the Pretoria agreement in South Africa on November 2, 2022, under African Union mediation. The deal ended a two-year war in northern Ethiopia that began in November 2020, one of the deadliest conflicts of recent years. It set out a cessation of hostilities, the disarmament of Tigrayan forces, the restoration of federal authority and services in the region, and unhindered humanitarian access. The Qatari statement did not name the party behind the latest escalation.

The ministry reaffirmed Qatar's support for all efforts to de-escalate tensions in Ethiopia and to resolve all disputes through dialogue and peaceful means.

The position reflects Doha's long-standing foreign policy of backing negotiated settlements and respect for state sovereignty. Qatar has built a record as a mediator in conflicts from Afghanistan to Gaza. Ethiopia is Africa's second most populous country and borders Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya and South Sudan. Its stability bears directly on the Red Sea and Horn of Africa, a region closely tied to Gulf security and trade.