Unilateral ceasefire declared in Ethiopia’s Tigray region

Ethiopia’s national government declared a unilateral ceasefire in the conflicted Tigray region as the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) claimed control of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray. Ethiopian security forces left their posts in Mekelle and according to their statement, it was ‘pausing’ hostilities to prevent the disruption of the farming season and allow distribution of the humanitarian aid, hence the ceasefire. The UN Security Council immediately called for an emergency meeting regarding the situation in Ethiopia. UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres stated that the conflict in Tigray is ‘extremely worrying’. The UN Security Council meeting could be held on Friday, July 2, 2021.