The Ethiopian government and regional Tigrayan forces agreed on Wednesday to a ceasefire, a dramatic diplomatic breakthrough likely to halt a two-year civil war that has devastated much of northern Ethiopia.
After a week-long peace talks mediated by the African Union (AU) began in the South African capital Pretoria, delegates from both sides inked a deal for a “permanent cessation of hostilities”.
Nigeria’s former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who led the AU mediation team said, “The two parties in the Ethiopian conflict have formally agreed to the cessation of hostilities as well as to systematic, orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament”.
Obasanjo said the agreement also included “restoration of law and order, restoration of services, unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, protection of civilians”.
“This moment is not the end of the peace process. Implementation of the peace agreement signed today is critical for its success,” said Obasanjo.
He added that this would be closely monitored by a high-level AU panel.
The war was provoked by distrust and breakdown in relations between the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), a guerrilla movement turned political party which dominated Ethiopia for 27 years, and Abiy, who was once part of their ruling coalition but whose appointment in 2018 ended the TPLF’s dominance.
Obasanjo, who stepped down as Nigeria’s president in 2007 and has since mediated conflicts across Africa, praised the process as an African solution to an African problem.
Ethiopia’s Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed praised Obasanjo and other mediators on the conclusion of the peace talks. He added that government’s commitment to the implementation of the agreement was strong.
“Our commitment to peace remains steadfast. And our commitment to collaborating for the implementation of the agreement is equally strong,” the statement read.
Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the Tigray authorities, said there was massive destruction in the region. He hopes that both parties would stand by their pledges.
