UN aid chief Martin Griffiths and the African Union’s envoy for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, visited the northern Tigray region of Ethiopia on Sunday to discuss humanitarian access and a possible ceasefire in the year-long conflict.

Mr Griffiths and Mr Obasanjo, a former Nigerian president, were in the regional capital Mekelle at the same time, according to reports.

It is unclear, however, whether the two were on the same trip.

Tigray TV reported that the two met “the president of Tigray government, Dr Debretsion Gebremichael” in his office for talks on the “crisis in Ethiopia and ways to deliver humanitarian aid and regional issues".

It said Mr Griffiths and Mr Obasanjo later returned to Addis Ababa.

A UN spokesperson was quoted by the AFP news agency saying that Mr Griffiths met Tigray's "de-facto authorities" and insisted on "the need for humanitarian access and protection of civilians through all areas under their control".

The TPLF spokesman, Getachew Reda, tweeted a photo apparently showing the meeting between Mr Obasanjo and TPLF leaders:

https://twitter.com/reda_getachew/status/1457451759304126471Envoys visit Tigray to discuss crisis - reports

Last November, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent the army to Tigray to oust Debretsion’s Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) from power in Tigray state.

Rebels took control of Mekelle in June.