The African Union (AU) has welcomed the Ethiopian government and the northern Tigray region’s agreement to end a two-year war that has claimed thousands of lives and caused many to flee.

“Today marks two years – less than two days – since violence and war broke out in the Northern Ethiopian region of Tigray,” the High Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission, Olusegun Obasanjo, said on Wednesday.

Obasanjo was briefing the media in Pretoria regarding the AU-led negotiations to resolve the conflict in Ethiopia.

He described the truce as a beginning of a new dawn for Ethiopia, and Africa as a whole.

“Let me hasten to thank God for this new dawn. We are seeing in practice and actualisation what we have tried to achieve for ourselves over the years – African solutions for African problems.”

The Chairperson said he views the peace agreement signing exercise as the implementation of Agenda 2063 – which embodies silencing the guns in Africa.

“The two parties in the Ethiopian conflict have formally agreed to the cessation of hostilities as well as to systematic, orderly, smooth, and coordinated disarmament, restoration of law and order, restoration of services, unhindered access to humanitarian supplies, protection of civilians especially women, children, and other vulnerable groups, among other areas of agreement,” he explained.

According to the BBC, the conflict started on November 2020, when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed ordered a military offensive against regional forces in Tigray.

The Prime Minister, according to Sky News, accused the region’s ruling party, the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF), of attacking the base and later the Ethiopian military bombed the facility in retaliation.

Soon after, the broadcaster said, massacres were blamed on the TPLF and militia from the neighbouring Amhara region of Ethiopia, which were supporting government troops.

“The agreement also ensures security for all concerned within and outside Ethiopia,” said the Chairperson.  

Obasanjo, who was appointed as High Representative for the Horn of Africa to promote peace, security and stability, visited Ethiopia several times and went to the Tigray region eight times.

Over the last 14 months, he also consulted regional leaders and stakeholders in Ethiopia, Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Member States, Africa and outside the continent.  

“Only last month, and for the exercise that has brought us here, the Chairperson of the AU Commission appointed former President Uhuru Kenyatta and former Deputy President, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, to join me in moving the process forward.” 

He also congratulated the two warring sides on what they had achieved.

“This moment is not the end of the peace process but the beginning of it. Implementation of the peace agreement signed today is critical to the success of the process,” he said on Wednesday.

Obasanjo also appreciated President Cyril Ramaphosa and his government for being a “wonderful” host during peace talks held in South Africa.

He also thanked three observers, the UN, IGAD and the United States, and the many that were not in the room during the briefing.

“We particularly thank the African Development Bank and the European Union for their financial support and the United Nations (UN) for their logistical support.”

The UN-backed investigators found that the Ethiopian government committed crimes against humanity of murder, torture, rape and sexual violence during the civil war. 

Bloomberg cited research from Belgium’s Ghent University that estimates half a million people have died since the war broke out, between 50 000 and 100 000 from the fighting, 150 000 to 200 000 from starvation and more than 100 000 from the lack of medical attention. 

Meanwhile, Obasanjo believes that the eyes of the world will now shift from the talks to the implementation.

“The leaders of both sides have supported the delegates to achieve what has been achieved. Finally, let me once again congratulate all the delegates,” he added.   

“You have made all Ethiopians at home and abroad winners in this agreement. Please positively move on, move up and move forward leaving the past behind. Ethiopia is a great nation and shall continue to be a great nation and pride to all Africans.” 

Source: South African Government News Agency