The Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray peoples Liberation Front (TPLF) today agreed in South Africa to end the bloddy war which reportedly claimed lives of half a million people in the past two years.
The African Union led peace talks held over the past ten years has resulted today in leading the two sides ink a peace deal in South Africa a few hours ago. According the chief mediator appointed by the African union the Former President of Nigeria Olusegun Obasanjo, t is a new don for Ethiopia and the east Africa in general.
TPLF will be put down arms as of today and Ethiopian Government will be in charge of all areas including Tigray region and facilitates aid delivery to the people affected by the war, according to the agreement.
Representatives of both sides in South Africa hosted peace talks have expressed their commitment to the realization of the peace deal signed today. Both sides have also agreed to refrain from releasing inflammatory statements that will jeopardize the peace deal.
In addition to the death of hundreds of thousands of people the war started in early November 2020 between the two sides have lead to the displacement os millions of people and destruction of properties worth billions of dollars.
In response to the peace deal Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed said “the agreement signed today in South Africa is monumental in moving Ethiopia forward on the path of the reforms we embarked upon four and half years ago”.
“Our commitment to peace remains steadfast. And our commitment to collaborating for the implementation of the agreement is equally strong. On behalf of the people and Government of Ethiopia, I would like to express my gratitude to the African Union Commission and the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa His Excellency former President Olusegun Obasanjo, together with esteemed members of the high representative’s team; His Excellency former President Uhuru Kenyatta and Her Excellency Dr. Phumuzile Mlalmbo, former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa,” Prime Minister of Ethiopia Abiy Ahmed said.
“I would also like to thank His Excellency Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission for spearheading the AU’s principled position of ‘African Solutions to African Problems’. To my dear brother His Excellency Cyril Ramaphosa, President of the Republic of South Africa, Ethiopia is grateful to you and the sisterly nation of South Africa for hosting these talks to their successful conclusion,” he said in a statement his office disseminated.
“I would like to express appreciation to friends of Ethiopia that have taken an active role in supporting the conclusion of this agreement. We count on your continued support in reconstructing conflict affected areas in the Northern part of the country and an enhanced partnership with Ethiopia in our countrywide development endeavors. Last but not least, to the brave members of the Ethiopian National Defense Forces and the courageous people of this nation that stood a testing period, I humbly share deepest gratitude,” Abiy said.
In a related devepment, the Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Dr Workneh Gebeyehu, congratulates the Government of Ethiopia and Tigrean People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement in Pretoria this evening.
“By signing this agreement to silence the guns and end the armed conflict, the people of Ethiopia now have the opportunity to establish a long-lasting peace”, the Executive Secretary said at the signing ceremony in Pretoria.
Dr Workneh commended the leadership and commitment of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali and his Government to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict. He also commended the important role of the African Union (AU), especially the role played by H.E. Moussa Faki, H.E Olesugun Obasanjo, the former president of Nigeria, Uhuru Kenyatta, the former president of Kenya, and H.E. Phumzile Mambo-Ngcuks, former deputy president of South Africa in facilitating the talks and congratulated the team of negotiators from both sides for conducting the dialogue in a responsible manner.
Dr Workneh further thanked the Government of the Republic of South Africa for graciously hosting the talks. The Executive Secretary encourages all parties to the agreement to live up to their commitments in implementing all its provisions.
The Intergovernmental Authority on Development has consistently called for a political solution to the conflict and played an active role in the mediation process and back-channel diplomacy through the IGAD Assembly of the Heads of State and Government.