Ethiopia and Tigray rebels reach consensus to end war
Warring parties in the Ethiopia-Tigray war reached an agreement yesterday to end the 2-year brawl that left hundreds of thousands dead and millions displaced and many facing starvation.
Senior officials from both sides shook hands after signing the agreement after peace talks convened by the African Union (AU) in South Africa.
The deal was signed by Getachew Reda, a senior leader in the Tigray People’s Liberation Front, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s national security adviser Redwan Hussein, in Pretoria, South Africa’s administrative capital.
It contained a raft of provisions for disarming fighters, permitting humanitarian supplies to reach Tigray where five million people urgently need food aid, and bringing a measure of stability to Ethiopia.
“We express our gratitude to all actors contributing to the success of this endeavor. In particular, the African Union Commission Chairperson, the African High –Level panel led by His Excellency former President Olusegun Obasanjo, supported by His Excellency former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and Her Excellency Dr. Phumuzile Mlalmbo, former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa. We thank the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, His Excellency Moussa Faki Mahamat, Commissioner Bankole Adeoye and his colleagues for their tireless work during these talks. We rely on their continued support as we implement the Agreement,” the two sides said in a joint statement.
“We have agreed to permanently silence the guns and end the two years of conflict in northern Ethiopia,” they added.
Reda hailed the deal and said that they had made concessions.
“We are ready to implement and expedite this agreement. In order to address the pains of our people, we have made concessions because we have to build trust,” Reda said.
“Ultimately, the fact that we have reached a point where we have now signed an agreement speaks volumes about the readiness on the part of the two sides to lay the past behind them to chart a new path of peace,” he added.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed lauded the consensus and committed to working towards the agreement.
“The commitment to peace remains steadfast. And our commitment to collaborating for the implementation of the agreement is equally strong,” he said in a statement.
Immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta who was one of the mediators in the peace talks, said that the lasting solutions can only be through a political dialogue.
“Violence, bullets and guns is not the solution. Agreeing that the lasting solution can only be through political engagement and political dialogues and being able to accommodate our differences and diversities and remaining a united Africa,” he said.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo during the first briefing on the peace talks said Ethiopia’s government and Tigrayan authorities have agreed on orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament along with restoration of law and order, restoration of services and unhindered access to humanitarian supplies.
“Finally, let me once again congratulate all the delegates. Well done! You have made all Ethiopians at home and abroad winners in this agreement. Please positively move on, move up and move forward leaving the past behind. Ethiopia is a great nation and shall continue to be a great nation and pride to all Africans,” he said.
“The agreement marks a new dawn for Ethiopia,” he added.
However, Eritrea despite playing a key role in the rivalry, did not make an immediate reaction and was not formally represented in the peace talks.
