ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The US president’s special envoy for the Horn of Africa will begin a three-leg Africa and Middle East tour this Sunday.

Jeffrey Feltman will visit Djibouti, Ethiopia, and the United Arab Emirates on Aug. 15-24, the US State Department said in a statement late Thursday.

“Special Envoy Feltman will meet with senior officials in the three countries to discuss opportunities for the US to promote peace and support the stability and prosperity of the Horn of Africa,” the statement said.

His visit to Ethiopia comes in the backdrop of a government counteroffensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

The US has been pushing for dialogue between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF, a call opposed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed because the country’s parliament has declared the group a terrorist organization.​​​​​​​