Olusegun Obasanjo: I have not been denounced as Ethiopian conflict mediator

Nigeria’s former president, Olusegun Obasanjo continues to wield significant influence in Nigeria. Credit: Friends of Europe.

NAIROBI, Kenya - Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo has dismissed claims that he's been rejected as an Ethiopian conflict mediator, just hours after visiting Mekelle, the regional administrative capital of the Tigray region.

For 12 months, the Tigray Defense Forces [TDF] has been embroiled in bitter conflict with Ethiopia National Defense Forces [ENDF], with the crisis now leaving thousands of people dead and others displaced.

In an interview with the BBC, Obasanjo said the rumours were unnecessary, noting that he's committed to ensuring harmony and peaceful negotiations between Mekelle and Addis Ababa.

"Nobody has rejected my mediation," Mr. Obasanjo told BBC Focus on Africa radio from Ethiopia where he has been meeting people from both sides of the conflict in his role as African Union envoy.

"The Prime Minister [Abiy Ahmed] has given me every attention I have asked for. He has treated me with utmost courtesy."

Then, referring to his trip on Sunday to the capital of the Tigray regional state, Mekelle, Mr. Obasanjo said: "The president of Tigray... received me the way I would be received by an African leader... so the idea of shunning and not receiving me and all that is incorrect."

"Everybody is saying: 'Look, we appreciate you being appointed. We know this is the way to go. We want somebody who is an honest broker... and we can't get anybody better than you.'"

The TDF has been categorical that its major aim is to capture Addis Ababa from the Ethiopian forces, a move that has been widely criticized. On his part, PM Abiy Ahmed has asked citizens to join ENDF in revolt against the Tigray rebels.

He said at this stage he is "trying to find out what are the issues of importance to different groups" before broaching the subject of negotiations.

A spokesman for the Tigray People's Liberation Front Getachew Reda tweeted a picture earlier of Mr. Obansanjo with TDF leader Debretsion Gebremichael, saying the discussions were "fruitful":

Both the US and the African Union have said they believe there is a small window of opportunity to resolve the conflict in Ethiopia. Special envoy Jeffrey Feltman is back in Addis Ababa to meet AU officials.

He was in Ethiopia last week where he met federal and regional government officials. AU envoy Olusegun Obasanjo told a UN Security Council meeting that time was running out and that there would be dire humanitarian consequences if the conflict is not resolved soon.

GAROWE ONLINE