Stage set for Tigray peace talks in South Africa amid ENDF, Eritrean troops crackdown

ADDIS ABABA-  The stage for peace talks over the ongoing conflict in the Tigray region has been set in the Republic of South Africa amid an ongoing crackdown, which is being instigated by the Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] and the Eritrean troops.

Already, the Tigray People's Liberation Front [TPLF] has dispatched a delegation for the African Union-led mediation days after the talks were postponed, with the Tigray team and a number of stakeholders complaining that they were not informed in time. 

The United States has been pushing for the talks, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken placing a call to President William Ruto over the conflict. Before Ruto was elected to office recently, the US was in touch with former President Uhuru Kenyatta over the predicament.

 The arrival in South Africa of the delegation from Tigray was confirmed last night by Prof. Kindeya Gebrehiwot, TPLF Central Committee member and a member of the Tigray external affairs office.

“The delegation of the Govt of Tigray to attend the AU-led peace talks on Ethiopia Tigray have just arrived in South Africa. Pressing: an immediate cessation of hostilities, unfettered humanitarian access & withdrawal of Eritrean forces. There can’t be a military solution,” Prof. Kindeya tweeted.

In a statement released a short while ago, the federal government said it “will be participating in the AU convened peace talks to be held in South Africa.”

“The Government of Ethiopia views the talks as an opportunity to resolve the conflict peacefully and consolidate the improvement of the situation on the ground brought about through the sacrifices of the ENDF,” the statement said, and confirmed that “the delegation has left for South Africa this morning.”

Before going for the talks, the Tigray team had called for the immediate withdrawal of Eritrean troops from the region while accusing the Ethiopian National Defense Forces of working closely with Asmara to exterminate the people of Tigray. Stakeholders have also been calling for the withdrawal of soldiers. 

The fighting between TPLF and the Ethiopian troops started in November 2020, but efforts to restore peace have been futile for several months. It is anticipated that the peace talks will end hostilities and rescue thousands of people whose lives have been plunged into vulnerability. 

GAROWE ONLINE