By Our Reporter
WORLD REPORT
The Ethiopian government and rival Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), forces who control the northern Tigray region on Wednesday signed a “permanent cessation of hostilities” in a bid to end one of Africa’s recent bloodiest civil war.
Per the signed agreement, the warring parties will cease hostilities and “silence guns in principle” in the war-torn Tigray region, and work on ending two-year old war “without delay.”
The signing of the agreements, which came after ten days of intense negotiations, marks an important milestone in the AU-led mediation process that began on Tuesday 25 October in South Africa, in pursuit of a peaceful solution to the two-year long conflict that has gripped the Horn of Africa’s nation.
According to AU, the two sides agreed to a disarmament plan as well as unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, resumption of halted basic services to Tigray.
The parties have agreed on “systematic, orderly, smooth and coordinated disarmament, restoration of services, unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, protection of civilians, especially women children and other vulnerable groups,” said mediator and former Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo.
The agreement also offers the “assurance of security for all concerned inside and outside Ethiopia.”
At the signing ceremony, Tigray’s Getachew Reda said “We have now signed an agreement. We will leave the past behind us. Making peace has proved elusive. Hundreds of thousands have died.”
“Thousands of combatants and civilians have lost their lives. We will do all in our power to expedite this agreement. We look to our brothers in Addis Ababa to do the same.”
“This war was imposed on us. Now that we are here to sign an agreement. I hope both parties honour this agreement.
“We have made concessions, so that we can build on the trust. Signing is one thing. Implementing is another. We hope the monitoring will be an iron-clad one.” He added.
Ambassador Redwan Hussine of Ethiopia: “The level of destruction is massive. We thank our brothers from the other side to put this period behind us. We have started an inclusive dialogue process.”
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor: “We humbly call on both sides to implement this agreement in full. It must lead to an enduring peace. We will support the AU and facilitation team”
IGAD executive secretary Workneh Gebeyeh in a tweet expressed his deep satisfaction at the signing of the Ethiopia peace agreement in Pretoria and congratulated AbiyAhmed Ali’s leadership, mediation teams, and the AU for what he said was ” a momentous outcome to silence the guns”.
IGAD has also played an active role in the AU-led mediation efforts.
Both parties said that they were committed to implementing a cessation of hostilities effective immediately.
The AU-led peace talks were launched on Tuesday 25 October in South Africa. It was scheduled to end on Sunday 30
