Ethiopian gov’t welcomes AU invitation for peace talks with rebel

Published: October 07,2022

The Ethiopian government on Wednesday reiterated support for the African Union (AU)’s invitation for peace talks with the rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).

In a press statement, the Ethiopia Government Communication Service said the entities leading the AU peace talks have made an official invitation for talks to begin and have announced both the date and venue. “The African Union’s official invitation is consistent with the Ethiopian government’s prior positions,” the statement said. The Ethiopian government had previously expressed its position that peace talks should only be mediated by the AU and should be held without any pre-conditions. 

The Ethiopia Government Communication Service said the federal government remains committed to adopting all possible measures to resolve the conflict in a manner that ensures lasting peace, and territorial integrity of the country and will continue upholding this commitment.

Meanwhile, Redwan Hussien, the national security advisor to the Ethiopian Prime Minister with a rank of a minister, also on Wednesday confirmed the Ethiopian government’s commitment to the AU’s peace initiative. “The government of Ethiopia has accepted this invitation, which is in line with our principled position regarding the peaceful resolution of the conflict and the need to have talks without preconditions,” Hussien said via Twitter post. Conflict resumed in late August, in which the Ethiopian government accused the rebel group of resuming fighting, saying the move by the rebel TPLF demonstrates its stance against any potential peace process.

The TPLF, on the other hand, accused the federal government of starting the attack on its forces, an accusation rejected by the government who described the accusation as a pretext by the rebel group “to continue its warmongering behavior.”  Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat had previously expressed his deep concern over the renewed military confrontation in northern Ethiopia and urged de-escalation. “The chairperson strongly calls for the immediate cessation of hostilities and urges the parties to resume talks to seek a peaceful solution,” an AU statement read. Faki reiterated the African Union’s continued commitment to working with the parties in support of a consensual political process in the interest of the country, the statement said.

Xinhua