The US embassy in Ethiopia says it has been encouraged by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo’s visit to Mekelle yesterday.

In a statement, US Ambassador Ervin Massinga said Mr Obasanjo’s work under his African Union mandate was critical at a time of mounting concern over renewed fighting.

Tensions between the Tigrayan authorities and Ethiopia’s federal government have remained high for months, fuelling fears that the conflict could once again erupt into war.

Mr Massinga said all sides should instead focus on addressing the drought conditions affecting communities across the country, as millions of people across the region face acute hunger.

The Greater Horn of Africa is enduring one of its worst droughts in decades, compounded by years of conflict and instability and the effects of a strengthening El Niño event.

“Getting people home and back to their productive lives, safely and with dignity, should be the objective of all leaders, and that will take compromise,” he said.

“We look forward to engaging former President Obasanjo on this matter of critical importance to the future of the people of Ethiopia,” Mr Massing added.

However, TPLF leaders say Mr Obasanjo’s visit to Mekelle “produced no new proposals or tangible progress towards dialogue with the Ethiopian federal government.”

In a statement issued today, the TPLF said Mr Obasanjo’s visit was made without a prior appointment, but that Tigray’s president rearranged his schedule to meet him.

During the meeting, the TPLF “expressed disappointment over what it described as a lack of meaningful follow-up to discussions held in June, when several issues were identified as potential entry points for dialogue” with the federal government.