Ethiopian, Tigray commanders agree on peace deal modalities
Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta during a senior commanders meeting on the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement between the government of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Tigray people’s liberation front (TPLF) in Nairobi on November 7, 2022.
Nairobi,
Senior Commanders from the federal government of Ethiopia and senior representatives of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) have agreed on the modalities to be used in evaluating the implementation of the peace deal signed early November to end two years of war in the country.
This paves way for the African Union-led team to in a few days kick off their monitoring and evaluation exercise of the agreement signed in South Africa.
This was revealed by the AU High level panel member and co-facilitator of the ongoing peace efforts former President Uhuru Kenyatta (Kenya) in a media briefing in Nairobi where the senior military officials from the federal government have been meeting with TPLF senior representatives for the last two days as part of the negotiations.
“They have agreed to give the AU team full access to ensure that all the key elements of the agreement are actually being implemented on the ground. I am confident that some of the challenges that may be there will be addressed as there has been full commitment by both parties,” said Mr Kenyatta.
Mr Kenyatta is leading the efforts alongside the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and former president of Nigeria Mr Olusegun Obasanjo and Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, member AU panel of the wise and former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa.
Part of the peace agreement signed was that both parties end their hostilities, all foreign forces leave Tigray region, a resumption of essential public services like banking, telephone and water as well as both allow ease of access to humanitarian aid kick off immediately.
Mr Kenyatta said the meeting in Mekelle will verify compliance with these actions.
“Documents are one thing, what we want now are the deliverables and this is why we are heading to Mekelle and I must say that the cordial working relationship between the senior military commanders who have been meeting and senior representatives of the two parties has been admirable and we are confident that we are marching in the right direction,” said Mr Kenyatta.
The parties did not make an appearance at the briefing but Mr Kenyatta said that they will have an opportunity to issue an open statement on the progress of the implementation of the agreement in Mekelle.
“We are very happy and grateful to both parties who have been at the centre of the negotiations for the last few months. We are making tremendous progress and today is another plus day where they have agreed to a series of actions and activities all aimed at bringing back a state of normalcy in Tigray and a state of peace in Ethiopia,” he added.
The meeting also discussed the implementation of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration (DDR) Process.
Mr Kenyatta said the team’s hope is to have Ethiopia enjoy its new year 2023 and Christmas in January in peace and with a great deal of hope regarding the future of the nation and fellow citizens.
Hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians have lost their lives in the two-year war and millions others displaced, some fleeing into the neighboring Sudan as others were left in dire need of humanitarian aid.
Atrocities committed by both parties during the two-year war including killing of aid workers have been documented by various human rights agencies in their call for justice to the victims.
