Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has been appointed as the Africa Union's envoy to the Horn of Africa.

It comes amid political and security crises in the region, in particular in Ethiopia where a civil war has been raging in the northern region of Tigray since November.

Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, said the former Nigerian leader would "intensify engagements with all relevant political actors and stakeholders in the region towards entrenching durable peace and stability within the Horn of Africa".

Mr Obasanjo is due to arrive in the region in coming weeks and the AU, which is headquartered in Ethiopia's capital, Addis Ababa, has asked all sides to support him.