The African Union says it will launch an inquiry into allegations of abuses in Ethiopia's northern Tigray region.

The commission of inquiry will begin work on Thursday and will investigate for three months subject to renewal.

"The Commission of Inquiry has a mandate [to] investigate allegations... and to gather all relevant information so as to determine whether the allegations constitute serious and massive violations of human rights," reads an AU statement.

The commission has asked for co-operation from all those involved during its investigation.

There have been widespread allegations of human rights violations in Tigray.

This is after a military operation to oust the former regional governing party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), began in November 2020.

Eritrean troops supporting the federal troops have been accused of violations and there has been pressure for them to leave the region.