Ethiopian Crisis: UN, US, AU hail peace agreement to end the bloody conflict
Pretoria, South Africa (PANA) - The United Nations, the United States and African Union (AU) have welcomed Wednesday's cessation of hostilities agreement signed by the Ethiopian government and the rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) at the end of the African Union (AU)-led peace talks in South Africa to end the two-year bloody fighting.
The UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres called it "a crucial first step" while Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, said it was "a momentous step".
The AU has said the agreement is a “new dawn”, and hailed the disarmament plan which both sides have officially signed up to after weeks of extensive negotiations, including the restoration of aid supplies.
The fighting, which started on 4 November 2020, when Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, ordered federal troops to respond to the TPLF's seizure of a military barracks in the Tigray capital Mekelle, 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, committed by both sides.
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.
The UN Secretary-General said the peace deal represents “a critical first step” towards ending the brutal two-year war.
In a statement issued by his Spokesperson, Mr. Guterres said the Agreement for Lasting Peace through a Permanent Cessation of Hostilities brokered by the AU and mediated by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, was "a promising start" to finally stopping the fighting.
“The Secretary General urges all Ethiopians and the international community to support the bold step taken today (Wednesday) by the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayan leadership,” the statement said.
There are around 5.2 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Tigray, including 3.8 million who need healthcare, said the UN World Health Organisation, and it has been two months since the last humanitarian aid reached the region.
The UN Secretary-General pledged his support to the parties in the implementation of the agreement and urged both sides “to continue with negotiations on the outstanding issues in a spirit of reconciliation in order to reach a lasting political settlement, silence the guns and put the country back on the path to peace and stability”.
He appealed to all stakeholders to seize the opportunity provided by the ceasefire, “to scale up humanitarian assistance to all civilians in need and to restore the desperately needed public services”.
Mr. Guterres commended the AU and its High-Level Panel for the facilitation of the peace talks and South Africa, for its key role hosting the talks.
“The United Nations stands ready to assist the next steps of the African Union-led process and will continue to mobilise much-needed assistance to alleviate suffering in the affected areas,” the statement said.
US Secretary of State Blinken said the US welcomes the "momentous step" taken in Pretoria to advance the AU’s campaign to “silence the guns” with the signing of a cessation of hostilities.
"We commend the parties for taking this initial step to agree to end the fighting and continue dialogue to resolve outstanding issues to consolidate peace and bring an end to almost two years of conflict."
The US said it welcomes the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians that should result from implementation of this agreement.
The US commended AU Commission Chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat for his leadership as well as the extraordinary efforts of AU High Representative Obasanjo, former South African Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka, and former Kenyan President Kenyatta, whose facilitation led to this significant step toward peace. We also commend South Africa for generously hosting the talks.
"The United States remains a committed partner to this AU-led process and to our collaboration with the UN, IGAD (Intergovernmental Authority on Development), and other regional and international partners to support implementation of today’s agreement."
The US also welcomed the statement of Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy expressing gratitude to the AU and shared its support for his desire for an enhanced partnership to support reconstruction and development for all communities in northern Ethiopia affected by the conflict.
-0- PANA MA 3Nov2022
