Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Addis standard1
Published on 2024-03-06 15:58:22
Mike Hammer, U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, is set to visit Addis Ababa from 7-13 March to attend a strategic review of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. This visit is part of his broader travel plans which will also take him to London and Rome. The State Department emphasized the importance of taking additional steps towards achieving lasting peace in Ethiopia, including disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration, transitional justice, and the return of internally displaced persons.
During his visit, Ambassador Hammer will engage with Ethiopian government officials to discuss efforts to end the violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions as well as address broader regional issues. The African Union will host a strategic review meeting, the first since the signing of the Pretoria agreement, to address the challenges related to fully implementing the agreement. The Tigray Interim Administration recently announced its decision to engage exclusively with the federal government through the African Union panel.
Differences between the federal government and the Tigray interim administration have arisen due to unmet expectations of the Pretoria agreement, particularly concerning the status of Western and parts of southern Tigray still occupied by government-affiliated forces and the delay in the return of internally displaced persons and the withdrawal of Eritrean forces. Additionally, there have been delays in responding to the severe drought in the region and in the demobilization of Tigrayan forces.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed recently met with the Tigray Interim Administration to assess progress in implementing the Pretoria agreement. Despite differing perspectives on conducting a referendum in western Tigray, plans are in place to return displaced civilians to their homes as a step towards resolving territorial disputes. The federal government intends to establish a temporary administrative structure in the disputed areas until the referendum can take place.
Reports indicate that thousands of displaced civilians from Western and North Western Tigray are seeking refuge in Endabaguna town, highlighting the urgency to address the ongoing crisis. Ambassador Hammer’s visit and the strategic review meeting present an opportunity to advance dialogue and work towards a lasting peace in the region. It remains crucial for all parties to engage constructively and prioritize the well-being of the people of Ethiopia.
Read the original article on Addis Standard
