Cessation of hostilities in Tigray to dominate South Africa talks

NAIROBI, Kenya - The Tigray People's Liberation Front [TPLF] insists cessation of hostilities in Ethiopia's Tigray region must top the agenda in the much-anticipated peace talks set to commence in South Africa, despite Addis Ababa maintaining that it would not allow preconditions to dominate the good gesture.

On Wednesday, both parties agreed to cooperate in the peace talks being mooted by the African Union Commission, with former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo being picked as the lead negotiator. Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta is also expected to join.

In a statement issued by the Tigray government and addressed to the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat, Mekelle stated that “it would be helpful to the peace process to know if the cessation of hostilities is part of your substantive agenda.”

The Tigray authorities, while lamenting that they were kept in darkness over the peace talks, said they had accepted the peace talks being brokered by the African Union but insisted to know the list of those expected to participate, including the observers.

Furthermore, the team said it will be pleased to know the roles of every participant “for the international community; and logistics, such as travel and security arrangements for our negotiating team.”

“We are ready to send our negotiation team to South Africa. Even so, considering that we are not consulted prior to the issuance of the invitation, we need clarification on some of the following issues to establish an auspicious start for the peace talks, such as whether there will be additional actors to be invited as participants, observes, or guarantors," reads the letter signed off by Debretsion Gebremichael, President of Tigray regional State.

It comes on the heels of a letter of invitation dated 01 October and signed off by the AU Chairperson Moussa Faki and sent to President Debretsion inviting him to “peace talks” scheduled to take place in South Africa from Sunday, 08 October 2022. [Note: Sunday is 09 October].

AU’s latter stated that “the peace talks between the two parties are expected to deliberate on the guiding principles, agenda issues, modalities, format, and timelines for the negotiated settlement aimed at laying the foundation for a structured and sustained mediation between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF, towards durable resolution of the conflict.”

The federal government of Ethiopia maintains that it has been consistent with peace talks for several months but dismissed intentions for preconditions. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed has struggled to contain setbacks in the Tigray region, leading to international condemnation by those who believe he should take the blame.

GAROWE ONLINE