Ethiopian crisis: US applauds launch of AU's Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission
Washington, DC, US (PANA) - The US has applauded the signing and launch of the African Union’s Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission (AU-MVCM) in Mekelle, the capital of Ethiopia's Tigray region, describing it as "another important step toward securing lasting peace for the people of northern Ethiopia".
A statement by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Friday said the the US stands ready to support the AU-MVCM and full implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement (COHA), which includes disarmament of Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) combatants, withdrawal of Eritrean forces, unimpeded humanitarian access, resumption of essential services, and implementation of transitional justice.
The US called on the parties to ensure the protection of civilians as mandated in the COHA.
It said it believes the AU-MVCM should play an important role in monitoring and verifying respect for human rights throughout the former conflict areas.
The US commended the AU and its High-Level Panel for facilitating agreement on the AU-MVCM and said it looks forward to working with AU panel members and the parties to expedite full implementation of the COHA that leads to lasting peace for the benefit of all Ethiopians.
"The United States will also continue to support the AU’s mandate to prevent, manage, and resolve conflicts and promote peace, security, and stability on the continent," Mr. Blinken said.
A three-member mission was inaugurated on Thursday to monitor, verify and enforce the 2 November Cessation of Hostilities agreement that ended a two-year bitter war between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF.
The Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mission will monitor the implementation of the civil and military agreement in accordance with the peace deal, the state-run Ethiopian News Agency (ENA) reported.
The members are: Major General Stephen Radina from Kenya, Colonel Rufai Umer Mairiga from Nigeria, and Colonel Tefo Sekole from South Africa.
The team was inaugurated as the implementation of the agreement brokered by the AU gathers pace to restore normal life to the war-ravaged Tigray region in northern Ethiopia.
Those present included former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and the Executive Secretary of regional grouping, Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD), Workneh Gebeyehu.
The Cessation of Hostilities agreement was signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on 2 November after AU-led talks brokered by former President Obasanjo, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African Deputy President, Dr. Phumuzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
ENA said the team supervised the handing over of government institutions in Mekelle to the Federal Police.
-0- PANA MA 31Dec2022
