ADDIS ABABA, Oct 6 (NNN-KBC) — Former presidents Uhuru Kenyatta and Olusegun Obasanjo are set to lead Ethiopia-Tigray peace talks scheduled to take place on Oct 8 in South Africa.
This after the Ethiopian government Wednesday accepted an invitation by the African Union (AU) to participate in peace talks aimed at ending a two-year conflict with Tigray forces.
The African Union sent the invitation on Saturday Oct 1.
In a statement released Wednesday, the Government of Ethiopia noted that the talks should only be mediated by the African Union and should be held without any pre-conditions.
“The Government of federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia remains committed to adopting all possible measures to resolve the conflict in a manner that ensures lasting peace, territorial integrity of the country and will continue upholding this commitment,” read the statement.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s national security adviser Redwan Hussein said on Twitter that the government had “accepted this invitation which is in line with our principled position regarding the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the need to have talks without preconditions”.
Last month, AU welcomed the announcement by the Regional Government of Tigray of its commitment for a peaceful resolution of the conflict.
In a statement, Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat also lauded Tigray´s willingness to participate in an African Union-led peace process.
He underscored the positive development as a unique opportunity towards the restoration of peace in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.
In this regard, the Chairperson particularly commended the regional government of Tigray for its readiness to engage in negotiations, in line with a similar call made by the Federal Government of Ethiopia.
Faki has further urged both Parties to urgently work towards an immediate ceasefire, engage in direct talks, in an AU-led process that is inclusive of mutually agreed international partners.
He reiterated the AU’s avowed longstanding and continued commitment towards a robust and credible peace process, founded on the commendable political courage displayed by both parties, which without delay, should help in delivering on the legitimate aspirations and supreme interests of all Ethiopians for peace, stability and sustainable development.
The Chairperson called on the international community to strengthen support to the ongoing AU-led peace process.
Fighting has raged in northern Ethiopia since hostilities resumed on Aug 24, with both sides accusing the other of firing first and breaking a March truce.
The combat first broke out around Tigray’s southeastern border, but has since spread along to areas west and north of the initial clashes, with the TPLF accusing Ethiopian and Eritrean forces of launching a massive joint offensive on Sept 1.
The March truce had allowed aid convoys to travel to Tigray’s capital Mekelle for the first time since mid-December.
While welcoming the Declaration of an indefinite Humanitarian Truce by the Government of Ethiopia over the Tigray region in AU chairperson said it would expedite the provision of much-needed humanitarian aid to people in need in the region plagued by conflict.
Faki further welcomed the announcement by the Regional Government of Tigray committing to observe the said humanitarian truce and also welcomed its declaration of an immediate cessation of hostilities. — NNN-KBC
