Ethiopian crisis: AU Commission chief commends Ethiopians for upholding Tigray peace deal
Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (PANA) -African Union Commission (AUC) Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat on Thursday congratulated Ethiopians for embracing peace, national dialogue and reconciliation as their nation marked the first anniversary of signing the Agreement for Lasting Peace between the government and .the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The AU chief executive reiterated the imperative to collectively build and sustain peace in the country’s northern Tigray region and Ethiopia as a whole and, by extension, the entire Horn of Africa region.
He saluted the Ethiopian Government under the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and the TPLF hierarchy for the sacrifice, unwavering commitment and mutual political will to permanently silence the guns in Tigray region “through the steady, timely and continuous implementation of the AU-facilitated Pretoria Agreement.”
A statement issued by the AUC said “In the spirit of African Solutions to African Problems, the Chairperson acknowledges the exemplary role and the contributions of African stakeholders to the Peace Agreement, particularly the AU Peace and Security Council, which endorsed the Peace Agreement on 9 November 2022.”
A three-member High-Level Panel, comprising former Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo (Nigeria), Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) and former Deputy President Pumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka (South Africa), and the Government of South Africa successfully hosted the AU-led peace talks to end the Ethiopian conflict.
Mr. Mahamat has welcomed the vital performance of the Team of African Experts serving under the AU Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission (MVCM) in the Tigray region, launched on 29 December 2022 in Mekelle, the regional capital.
He further commended all AU Member States, particularly the Governments of Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa, for the support extended to the MVCM through the prompt deployment of uniformed personnel to monitor the Peace Agreement.
According to the AUC statement, the Chairperson also extended his gratitude to partners, notably the African Development Bank, the Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations, the United States of America, the European Union, as well as other AU partners for their concrete support to the AU-led Ethiopian peace process.
He applauded the notable milestones being recorded in the implementation of the Peace Agreement and its Nairobi Roadmap. In this regard, the Chairperson highlighted the handover of heavy and medium weapons, the restoration of basic services, the resumption of schools and commercial activities in the Tigray region, the establishment of an Interim Regional Administration, and the Working Group on Transitional Justice as well as the National Commission for Reintegration.
“These vital actions powerfully demonstrate the commitment of the Signatory Parties to chart a path for sustainable peace and security in Ethiopia,” he said.
The Chairperson has reaffirmed “full solidarity and commitment of the AU to intensify support for the implementation of the Peace Agreement as the implementation moves to the crucial phase of DDR.”
He reassured the people and Government of Ethiopia that the AU stands ready to consolidate the gains being made and resolve the pending issues in implementing the Permanent Cessation of Hostilities deal.
-0- PANA AR/MA 2Nov2023
