Uhuru to miss Ethiopia-Tigray peace talks in South Africa
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta says he won’t attend African Union peace talks on Ethiopia scheduled for tomorrow in South Africa due to other engagements.
In a letter to the chairman of the African Union Mousa Faki Mahamat, the former President cited a clash in his schedule as the reason for not being in a position to attend.
“In the next peace talks I would be grateful to receive further clarity on the structure and modalities of the talks including the rules of engagement” Uhuru wrote
“Furthermore, as we discuss the agenda for the talks, it is my hope that among the most urgent issues high on that agenda will be the immediate and unconditional cessation of hostilities,” he added.
“This silencing of the guns is particularly important in order to avail the right conditions for the consultations and negotiations while alleviating human suffering and allowing for continued access to humanitarian assistance,” the statement further read.
Kenyatta was invited by the chair of the AU Commission to lead Ethiopia-Tigray peace talks.
The AU-convened talks would be “aimed at laying the foundation for a structured and sustained mediation” between the two sides toward a “durable resolution of the conflict.”
Other leaders to facilitate the talks are AU special envoy and former Nigerian President Olesegun Obasanjo with the support of former South African Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
Kenyatta was appointed by President William Ruto as envoy to spear head the peace talks following his previous efforts to call for peace.
