Less than 48 hours from the anniversary date of the conflict that has pitted them for two years, the Ethiopian federal government and the rebel authorities of Tigray concluded on Wednesday, November 2 in Pretoria an agreement of “cessation of hostilities” and of “methodical disarmament”.
The agreement, publicly signed by the heads of the two delegations, also provides “restoration of public order, services (in Tigray), unimpeded access of humanitarian supplies, protection of civilians, among others”listed the High Representative of the African Union (AU) for the Horn of Africa, the former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo. “This moment is not the end of the peace process, but its beginning. The implementation of the peace agreement signed today is essential”he warned.
Details of the terms of the agreement and its implementation were not immediately disclosed. In particular, the mediators did not indicate what the agreement provides for concerning the intervention in Tigray of the army of neighboring Eritrea, a sworn enemy of the Tigrayan leaders, which supports the Ethiopian federal army.
A “welcome first step”
The head of the Ethiopian government delegation, Redwan Hussein, national security adviser to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, hailed “constructive engagement” belligerents “to put an end to this tragic episode”.
This agreement shows “the will of both parties to leave the past behind”said Getachew Reda, who led the delegation of the rebel authorities in Tigray, saying he hoped that “both parties honor their commitments”. “As we speak, thousands of combatants and civilians are losing their lives. It is therefore important not only to sign this agreement but also that it is immediately implemented.”he added.
This is’“a really welcome first step”, according to the spokesman for the Secretary General of the United Nations (UN) Antonio Guterres. And “the beginning of a new era for Ethiopia”according to the African Union.
One of the “world’s deadliest conflicts”
Since October 24, delegations from the Ethiopian federal government and the rebel authorities of Tigray have started peace talks in Pretoria under the aegis of the AU, to find a solution to the war that has ravaged the north of the country for two years. .
During the talks, fighting continued in Tigray, where Ethiopian federal troops have been advancing since mid-October, supported by the Eritrean army and by forces and militias from the neighboring Amhara and Afar regions.
Supported by artillery and aerial bombardment, the Ethiopian army and its allies have recently seized several key towns in the rebel region since fighting resumed on August 24.
The press does not have access to northern Ethiopia and communications there operate haphazardly, making independent verification impossible. The toll of the conflict, marked by countless abuses and largely taking place behind closed doors, is unknown, but the International Crisis Group (ICG) and Amnesty International (AI) describe it as “one of the deadliest in the world”.
“All parties are responsible for serious violations, including war crimes and crimes against humanity, including the summary executions of hundreds of people and sexual violence against women and girls”Amnesty International said on Wednesday.
Two million displaced
The war has also caused a humanitarian catastrophe in northern Ethiopia, displacing more than two million Ethiopians and plunging hundreds of thousands into near-famine conditions, according to the UN.
The UN Human Rights Council on Friday “Painted a very bleak picture” the situation in Tigray, almost cut off from the world, referring in particular “the obstruction of access to food, medicine, and basic services”.
Tigray has been largely without electricity, telecommunications and banking services for more than a year. The resumption of fighting has also interrupted a large part of the delivery of humanitarian aid to the region, whose truce declared at the end of March had allowed the resumption after three months of an initial interruption.