Panafrican News Agency

Ethiopian crisis: Military commanders of Government, TPLF meet in Nairobi

Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) - Military commanders of the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) on Monday began a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, as specified by the peace agreement reached between the two sides in South Africa last week.

The state-owned Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) quoted a senior security adviser to the Prime Minister as tweeting that issues of safety and expediting humanitarian flow to hitherto inaccessible areas would be discussed.

The two sides signed a Cessation of Hostilities agreement Pretoria on 2 November after an African Union (AU)-led talks brokered by the AU High Representative and former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, former South African Deputy President, Dr. Phumuzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, and former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Under the deal, they agreed to a permanent ceasefire and peaceful resolution of the conflict.

The fighting has claimed thousands of lives, displaced millions, destroyed livelihoods and created a huge humanitarian problem amidst allegations of human rights violations, including possible war crimes.

Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in his comments after the deal was signed said the two sides had fundamentally agreed that the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia were non-negotiable.

He added that both sides also agreed that the country needed only one national defence force and "that is a big victory for Ethiopia".

Mr. Abiy said the agreement indicated that an illegal election held in Tigray region had been cancelled and a legal vote would be held.

Both sides have agreed that the claim to disputable areas be resolved only through peace, dialogue and the law of the land.

The government said the cardinal principles agreed in the agreement included provisions on the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of the TPLF combatants.

"The next step would be the implementation of the agreement. The Government is looking forward to immediately embarking on the rehabilitation and reconstruction of communities affected by this conflict. The Government is ready to work closely with international partners in this regard," the government said.,

The conflict started on 3 November, 2020 when the TPLF forces attacked the Federal forces in the Tigray regional capital, Mekelle and PM Abiy responded the following day.

There was a five-month lull in the fighting, but hostilities resumed again on 24 August.

The TPLF had dominated Ethiopian politics for years until Prime Minister Abiy's electoral victory in 2018.

-0- PANA MA 7Nov2022