Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis standard1
Published on 2024-03-13 10:49:37
Amidst ongoing conflicts and territorial disputes, the 2024 Annual Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community highlighted the potential for a resumption of conflict in Ethiopia. Despite the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement signed in November 2022 between the Ethiopian Government and the Tigrayans to end a two-year war, unresolved territorial issues pose a significant threat to peace and stability in the region.
The threat assessment report, released on 11 March, coincided with a strategic review on the implementation of the CoHA at the AU premises in Addis Abeba. The meeting aimed to support critical aspects of the Ethiopian Peace Process, including humanitarian support, DDR, rehabilitation, and reconstruction. While the African Union reported that the two parties agreed to consult regularly and advance peace, security, and stability in the Tigray region, the widening differences between the federal government and the Tigray interim administration remained unresolved.
One of the key unresolved issues is the status of western and parts of southern Tigray still occupied by Amhara regional forces affiliated with the government, as well as the withdrawal of Eritrean forces from northeastern parts of Tigray and delays in IDP returns. The federal government’s plan to retain control over these areas to facilitate repatriation and local elections faced opposition from the Tigray interim administration, which emphasized the importance of constitutional processes outlined in the CoHA.
In addition to the territorial disputes, the 2024 threat assessment report raised concerns about multiple internal conflicts in Ethiopia, heightening interethnic tension and increasing the risk of atrocities against civilians. The report highlighted the ongoing conflict in the Amhara Regional State, which started in April 2023 and involved militarized hostilities between government forces and the Fano armed group.
The state of emergency in the Amhara region, initially declared in August 2023 following mass protests against the federal government, was extended by four more months as the region continued to grapple with instability and widespread conflict. The escalation of violence in the region led to the killing of civilians and destruction of vital infrastructure, culminating in the assassination of the Head of the ruling Prosperity Party in the region.
As Ethiopia faces simultaneous internal conflicts and escalating tensions, the need for sustainable peacebuilding efforts and conflict resolution mechanisms becomes increasingly urgent. The unresolved territorial disputes in Tigray and the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region underscore the complex challenges facing the country, requiring coordinated efforts from all stakeholders to prevent a return to conflict and promote lasting peace and stability.
Read the original article on Addis Standard
