Panafrican News Agency

Ethiopian crisis: US hails meeting of Government, TPLF military commanders

Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US has hailed the commencement of a meeting between military commanders of the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF), as a concrete implementation step that reflects a commitment by both parties to “silence the guns”.

The military commanders began a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday in keeping with the provision of the peace agreement signed in South Africa last week that specified that the military commanders would meet within five days to work out the implementation.

Also, as provided by the agreement, a hotline has been established between the two seniormost commanders.

Mr. Ned Price, Spokesperson for the UN State Department, told a media briefing in Washington on Monday that, however, "more work remains". 

"We understand the agenda for the Nairobi talks will also include the urgent need to expedite humanitarian assistance and restoration of services for Tigray and adjoining affected regions of Afar and Amhara, in accordance with the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement," he said.

The talks are being presided over by the AU High Level Panel of former presidents Olusegun Obasanjo of Nigeria and Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, the AU Commission, and with the participation of Kenyan and South African generals.

The observers include the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), and the U.S., represented by special envoy Mike Hammer.

Under the peace agreement, the two sides 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 agreement 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".

The government said the cardinal principles agreed in the agreement included provisions on the disarmament, demobilisation, 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 8Nov2022