Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta has pulled out of the peace talks on the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia slated for Saturday, October 8, in South Africa.
Kenyatta wrote a letter to the African Union Chairman, Mousa Faki, notifying him that he would be unavoidably absent due to his other pressing assignments.
“Regrettably, I wish to notify your good office that I will not be able to attend the AU-Convened Peace Talks scheduled for October 8, 2022, in South Africa owing to conflicts in my schedule.
“I thank you for your dedication to the Pan-African call for peace in our continent. Please accept, Excellency, the assurances of my highest consideration,” Uhuru signed the letter as Kenya’s peace envoy.
He further sought for a rescheduling of the peace talks, stating that he would be grateful to receive further clarity on the structure and modalities of the talks, including but not limited to the rules of engagement for all concerned parties.
AU Chair Moussa Faki invited Kenyatta to join a ‘Troika of negotiators’, according to a letter seen by News Central.
Kenyatta along with former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, former South Africa’s Deputy President Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka were scheduled to mediate between the warring Ethiopian government and Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The two opposing sides had already agreed to the peace talks. The team was expected to fly to South Africa on Sunday, October 8, for the first rounds of discussions.
This would have been Uhuru’s first assignment since handing over power to his successor, President William Ruto.