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The warring sides in Ethiopia’s civil war have formally agreed to a permanent cessation of hostilities.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo speaks at briefing on South Africa peace talks EthiopiaThe government and the Tigray authorities have agreed on “orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament”.
Other key points, he said, included the “restoration of law and order” as well as the “restoration of services” and “unhindered access to humanitarian supplies”.
Two years of war have left thousands dead, millions displaced and hundreds of thousands facing famine.
“Now all of us should abide by this agreement,” said Redwan Hussein, the Ethiopian government’s chief negotiator.
Tigray chief negotiator Getachew Reda echoed a similar sentiment, noting that “painful concessions” had been made.
Both sides have been accused of abuse of power.
Eritrea, which is fighting alongside neighboring Ethiopia, is not part of the peace talks. It is unclear whether its government will respect the agreement, as it has long viewed the Tigray authorities as a threat.
The Eritrean army has been blamed for some of the worst abuses in the conflict, including gang rapes, with witnesses describing killings and looting by the Eritrean army even during peace talks.
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A fighter loyal to the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) guards a post on the outskirts of Hawzen town in northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region.Image: Associated Press
Troops from Ethiopia’s neighbouring Amhara region have also been fighting Tigray forces, but representatives from the region have not been involved in peace talks.
“Amharis cannot be expected to abide by any outcome of the negotiating process that they perceive to be excluded,” said Tewodrose Tirfe, president of the American Amharic Association.
People who die from easily preventable diseases and starvation
It remains to be seen how quickly aid can return to Tigray, where communications and transport links have been largely disrupted since the conflict began.
Doctors described essential medicines such as vaccines, insulin and therapeutic foods as running out. They say people die from easily preventable diseases and from hunger.
UN human rights investigators have accused the Ethiopian government of using “civilian starvation” as a weapon of war.
How did the conflict start?
The conflict began in November 2020, less than a year after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for making peace with Eritrea, which borders the Tigray region.
His government has since declared Tigray, which ruled Ethiopia for nearly three years before he took office, a terrorist organization.
Speaking on Wednesday ahead of the announcement of the peace talks, Mr Ahmed said, “We also need to replicate our victories on the battlefield in our peace efforts. We are ending the war in northern Ethiopia with victory…we will Now brings peace and development.”
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