In the conflict between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the Tigray rebels, the mediation of the African Union (AU) has been placed under the aegis of South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. Gathered in South Africa, the panel of mediators appointed by the pan-African institution reached an agreement between the Ethiopian enemy brothers. It was the former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obansanjo, as AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, who made the announcement on November 2, 2022 in South Africa.
“Today marks the start of a new dawn for Ethiopia, for the Horn of Africa and indeed for Africa as a whole. The two Ethiopian parties to the conflict have formally accepted the cessation of hostilities as well as a systematic, orderly, harmonious and coordinated disarmament, the restoration of public order, the restoration of services, unimpeded access to humanitarian supplies, the protection civilians, especially women, children and other vulnerable groups, among other areas of agreement”.
It is with these words that the former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obansanjo, announced on November 02, 2022 in South Africa, the signing of a cessation of hostilities agreement between the Tigray People's Liberation Front Front (TPLF) and the government of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. After nearly two years of war in Tigray, the two parties have agreed, according to the above named agreement, to end the conflict which has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives. As in any conflict, civilians have mostly paid the highest price.
High Representative of the African Union for the Horn of Africa.
For the representative of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, head of the government delegation and national security adviser, Redwan Hussein, he welcomed the commitments of both parties. Also, he welcomed this agreement which he considered constructive to allow Ethiopia to move forward considering that this tragic period of conflict behind the Ethiopians. And for good reason, Redwan Hussein, the security adviser declared that “the government, for its part, will take various proactive measures to nurture democracy and inclusive development in the country”.
While expressing the hope that every effort will be made to silence the guns for good, Getachew Reda, the representative of the TPLF called for "rebuilding the communities that have already been closed due to such a bloody war that has continued over the past two years and is still continuing. And, he continued, as if to give pledges on behalf of the TPLF by declaring: “we are ready to do everything to ensure that no effort on the part of the troublemakers will make us back down [on our commitment for the peace] ".
A welcome agreement, but to be consolidated
In short, the agreement confirms that the two parties to the Ethiopian conflict have formally agreed on a cessation of hostilities, as well as on a methodical, orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament. In addition, the two parties to the Ethiopian conflict have agreed to a restoration of public order, services (in Tigray), unimpeded access of humanitarian supplies, protection of civilians.
Two months from the end of 2022, this peace agreement on the war in Ethiopia appears as an end-of-year gift and good news for all parties. Including for the African continent and its citizens who were forced to look at the situation with great bitterness, given what Ethiopia represents for all of Africa. This is how we can understand the feelings of the former President of Benin Republic, Nicephore Soglo, who warmly welcomed it the day after the signing of the peace agreement.
“The Forum of Former Heads of State and Government of Africa has followed with particular attention the peace talks between the Federal State of Ethiopia and the rebels of Tigray opened since October 25, 2022 in Pretoria. Talks that led to the signing of a peace agreement under the aegis of the African Union on November 2, 2022 in the South African capital.
The forum welcomes this agreement reached under the leadership of one of its eminent members in the person of the former President of the Federation of Nigeria, President Olusegun Obasanjo as High Representative of the African Union (AU ) for the Horn of Africa. This is the place to pay a well-deserved tribute to this distinguished personality thanks to whom the members of the Forum were kept informed from hour to hour of the progress of the negotiations between the two parties.
This outcome adds to the long list of actions of the various members of the forum for the promotion of peace and security everywhere in Africa where fratricidal conflicts are observed.
President Obasanjo is thus laying an additional stone in the edifice set up by Madiba, His Excellency President Nelson Mandela in Maputo in 2006 and whose presidency is currently held by the former President of Mozambique, Mr. Joachim Chissano.
Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
We take this opportunity to thank the current Chairman of the African Union, President Macky Sall of Senegal as well as the Chairman of the African Union Commission H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat for the confidence shown in a member of our august forum.
Finally, we appeal to the belligerents for the scrupulous respect of the commitments made in order to strengthen peace in the Horn of Africa in particular, but also to free our continent from foreign domination in all its forms.
The forum remains mobilized in the search for solutions to the many challenges facing the development of our continent, the cradle of humanity”.
In this statement made public on November 8, Nicéphore Soglo paid a deserved tribute to the former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, as well as all the personalities who took an active part in the outcome of the negotiations.
However, the cessation of hostilities agreement signed in South Africa does not yet seem to reassure all observers of the war in Ethiopia. Because it is not yet a peace agreement as such, but rather a cessation of hostilities agreement. It now remains to initiate the necessary dialogue which should lead to a definitive peace agreement. Between the two, there is a very long path that leads to peace. And there are many, all those who think that the rest of the outcome would be more to the advantage of the Prime Minister in the face of the demands of the TPFL rebels. But, all things considered, it is far too early to predict the future of these negotiations and to whose advantage they would be. Provided only that the final peace agreement is firmly in favor of peace rather than war.
By Marcus Boni Teiga
