Talks are due to start this weekend in South Africa between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
After nearly two years of bloody warfare between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), the two warring parties will begin negotiations in the South African city of Johannesburg this weekend.
The aim is to find ways and means to end the conflict that has left thousands dead and driven millions into exile.
Using his Twitter account, the Senegalese head of state, Macky Sall, who is the current chairman of the African Union, welcomed the choice made by both sides to favour dialogue over arms.
“I welcome and support the commitment of the parties to the conflict in Ethiopia to resume dialogue for peace under the aegis of a panel of eminent African personalities. This is excellent news,” he tweeted.
Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo will lead the peace talks as the African Union’s Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa.
He will be assisted by former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Deputy President of South Africa.
The Tigray war, named after the region in northern Ethiopia, started in November 2020.
At the time, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent the federal army to dislodge the leaders of the regional government, who challenged his authority and whom he accused of attacking military bases there.
A truce had been observed for the past five months.
But since 24 August, clashes have resumed.
These negotiations are therefore supposed to lead to a cessation of hostilities in order to envisage a definitive return to peace.
ARD/te/lb/as/APA