Lungani Zungu
Warring parties in Ethiopia, the bloodiest conflict in the world, have reportedly agreed to lay down their arms.
This was revealed by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was tasked by the African Union Commission to mediate between the Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan forces.
The peace deal – which was hailed as a major achievement – was brokered in Pretoria.
The conflict broke out two years ago this month when forces of the Ethiopian federal government, backed by Eritrea and ethnic militias, attacked the regional government of Tigray. Both sides claimed the other side attacked first.
Since then over 500,000 people are believed to have died and millions more have either been displaced or brought to the brink of starvation.
Obasanjo said the Ethiopian government and Tigray agreed on “orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament and the restoration of law and order”.
Obasanjo termed the deal “a new dawn” for the people of Ethiopia.
Among others, the two opponents agreed on:
- Permanent cessation
- Total disarmament
- Access to humanitarian aid
- Collaboration to rebuild affected areas
- Assurance of security within Ethiopia for concerned bodies – Monitoring and supervision by an AU panel.
The formal talks to end the war started on 25 October.
Last week President Cyril Ramaphosa said that South Africa had been requested to host the AU-led peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Minister of International Relations Naledi Pandor called for all the parties to respect the peace deal.
Getachew Reda, the head of the TPLF delegation, said: “We are ready to expedite this agreement.”
Redwan Hussein, the lead negotiator for the Ethiopian government, agreed.
“We all have to honour this agreement and move our country forward,” he declared.
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta warned that the devil would be in the implementation and that “destructive actors from within or without” could yet derail the peace process.
He was apparently referring to the Eritrean forces and ethnic Amharas who have been fighting alongside the Ethiopian military.
The high-powered AU mediation team was led by Obasanjo and aided by Kenyatta and former deputy president of South Africa, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The conflict, which has long-standing ethnic and international dimensions, stems from grievances dating back to when the TPLF dominated Ethiopia.
Pictured above: Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo, who was instrumental in brokering peace in Ethiopia
Source: @yusufhamidyusuf
