WASHINGTON, (Reuters) – The U.S. Special Representative for the Horn of Africa stated Tuesday that there is a danger of “alarmingly” increasing military operations stalling progress towards bringing all sides to Ethiopia’s conflict into talks on a ceasefire.

Following his return from Ethiopia on Monday evening, Jeffrey Feltman updated Washington reporters and talked to Prime Minster Abiy Ahmad about a possible diplomatic solution. This conflict which has displaced millions and killed thousands in Africa’s 2nd largest nation, Ethiopia, was reportedly a one-year old.

Both Abiy and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the political party controlling the northern region of Tigray, seem to believe they are on the cusp of military victory, Feltman said.

“There are some nascent advances in trying to get parties to move away from a militaristic confrontation to a negotiating proces,” Feltman stated. The alarming developments that are taking place on the ground threaten Ethiopia’s unity and stability, so this fragil progress is concerning.

Billene Seyoum was Abiy’s spokesperson but did not immediately reply to my request. Getachew Reda (TPLF spokesperson) could not be reached for comment immediately.

The conflict broke out in Tigray in November 2020 between Ethiopian federal soldiers and the TPLF. The conflict erupted in July and spread to two other regions of northern Ethiopia.

Feltman stated that both sides are in talks with the United States to begin a discrete peace process. He also said that both parties had different key needs.

The TPLF calls for the lifting of a U.N. “de facto blockade government” and the entry of humanitarian aid into Tigray. There are 400,000 people living under starvation. Abiy also wants Tigrayan forces to leave the territory they have taken.

The TPLF also called for Abiy’s resignation, despite his huge victory in the national election this year.

Although Feltman stated that he had discussed diplomatic options with Abiy but the Ethiopian leader indicated his confidence in him being able to achieve his military goals.

Abiy posted on Twitter (NYSE 🙂 Monday a statement promising that he would lead from the frontlines Tuesday.

He wrote, “I will go to the frontline to direct the defense forces myself.” Let’s get together at the frontline… it is time to sacrifice for the country.

Tigrayan troops and their allies are threatening to march on the capital. However, they also have been fighting hard to create a transportation corridor connecting landlocked Ethiopia to the main port Djibouti.

Feltman claimed that while the Ethiopian military was able to stop the Tigrayan move to cut the corridor, the regional militias were able to do the same for the Tigrayan troops.

The Ethiopian military spokesperson didn’t respond to our requests for comment.

“For a time the lines were stationary, but then around a week ago (the Tigrayan force) began to move again,” Feltman stated. We are concerned for many reasons.

Feltman stated that Tigrayan troops could move closer to Addis and increase their demands.

“We are completely opposed to (Tigrayan) threats to Addis by cutting off Djibouti road, or threatening Addis via entering Addis,” Feltman stated.

On Tuesday, Germany and France joined the United States to urge Ethiopian citizens to flee immediately. Stephane Dujarric from the U.N. spoke to journalists in New York, saying that some hundred members of their families would be moving out of Ethiopia.

He stated that “Staff would remain in Ethiopia to fulfill our mandates.”