ADDIS ABABA, March 16 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian government has called for urgent international support to prevent a resurgence of conflict in Tigray region in northern Ethiopia, accusing a political faction of committing "multiple violations" of the peace accord that ended a two-year war.

Ethiopian Foreign Minister Gedion Timothewos issued a statement amid rising tensions within the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), a signatory to the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA), which was signed in November 2022 alongside the Ethiopian federal government, state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported late Friday.

While briefing members of the diplomatic community in Addis Ababa on Friday, Timothewos urged the international community "to discern and distinguish between the spoilers of the COHA and those who are trying to faithfully implement the agreement, and support the process moving forward," according to the ENA.

Ethiopia, Africa's second most populous nation, endured a devastating two-year conflict between government-allied forces and forces loyal to the TPLF, which erupted in November 2020, leaving hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced.

In November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the TPLF signed a peace accord in Pretoria, South Africa, aimed at ending the war. The agreement includes provisions for restoring law and order, resuming basic services, and disarming former TPLF combatants.

As the deepening power struggle within the TPLF raises serious security concerns, relevant parties are urged exercise restraint and engage in constructive dialogue.

Expressing its "deep concern" over the situation, the African Union (AU) on Friday stressed the importance of stability and peace in Tigray.

"In light of the current developments, the AU strongly encourages the parties to uphold the obligations enshrined in the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities Agreement," the AU said in a statement, adding that adherence to the COHA is crucial for maintaining the hard-won peace and fostering an environment conducive to reconciliation, sustainable peace-building, and development.

Amid the latest developments, a dissident faction within the TPLF has, over the past week, seized control of key offices and institutions across the region, raising fears of renewed conflict.

Timothewos outlined several "material breaches" of the peace accord, accusing the faction of "attempting to dismantle the interim administration through violence, collaborating with external forces hostile to Ethiopia, and obstructing the return of internally displaced persons," according to the ENA.

He also highlighted the derailment of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration process, a key component of the peace accord, as well as the faction's refusal to comply with directives from the Ethiopian National Election Board.

"These are not just minor breaches. These are major violations that threaten the very foundation of the Pretoria Agreement," the ENA quoted Timothewos as saying.

Speaking alongside the Ethiopian foreign minister, Getachew Reda, president of Tigray's interim administration, said the region had reached "a point where the interim administration cannot conduct its daily business."

Accusing the faction of forcibly seizing administrative structures, detaining interim administration officials, and using violence against protesters, Reda warned that the situation could lead to a complete breakdown of law and order and potentially reignite conflict. Enditem

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