Panafrican News Agency

Ethiopian crisis: US Secretary of State welcomes announcement of AU-led negotiations to resolve conflict

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The United States welcomes the planned launch of African Union-led peace talks next week between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayan regional authorities, the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said on Friday.

He said in a press statement that the US commends South Africa for hosting the talks and stands ready to support AU High Representative Olusegun Obasanjo and AU panel members Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and Uhuru Kenyatta in facilitating an agreement that ends the fighting in Ethiopia and restores security for all its people.

"As a partner to the African Union, the United States is committed to actively participate in efforts to advance peace in northern Ethiopia," Mr. Blinken said.

The US expressed deep concern about reports of significant loss of life, destruction, indiscriminate bombardment, and human rights abuses since the five-month humanitarian truce was broken on 24 August.

The US said it was also alarmed by the risk of widespread atrocities.

"In advance of next week’s talks, we reiterate our call on the parties to immediately cease all hostilities and for the Ethiopian National Defence Force and Eritrean Defence Forces to immediately halt their joint military offensive and ensure civilians are protected.

The US also called on Eritrea to withdraw its forces from northern Ethiopia and for unimpeded humanitarian assistance to be resumed immediately to all those in need.

The AU-led peace talks to end the bloody fighting between the Ethiopian government and separatist Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) is scheduled for Monday, 24 October in South Africa.

The government and TPLF say they would attend the talks. The Ethiopian government troops and the TPLF forces have been locked in  the conflict since November 2020.

-0- PANA MA/RA 22Oct2022