To ensure that the conflict in Ethiopia comes to an end and that access to humanitarian aid is restored, the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia’s ambassador to Qatar, H E Feisel Aliyi Abrahim, has pleaded with the international community to denounce the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) and support the African Union-led peace process.
In a media roundtable he participated in yesterday in Doha, the ambassador made this call, emphasizing the value of peace in the Horn of Africa to the Middle East and the rest of the globe.
In November 2020, conflict erupted between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s central government and Tigray’s rulers, the (TPLF) of northern Ethiopia. Fighting between Tigrayan fighters and Ethiopian government forces resumed in August following a cease-fire in March of this year, following reports of attacks by the TPLF.
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As a result, Tigray is no longer receiving humanitarian aid from the United Nations (UN). Ethiopia formed a negotiating team called the “Peace Committee,” which is headed by Demeke Mekonnen, the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister, to present the Ethiopian side of the peace proposal and help bring the war to a conclusion.
The African Union’s High Representative, H. E. Olusegun Obasanjo, and the government have agreed to cooperate in mediating a settlement.
“We call on the international community to stand ready to assist the African Union and its mediation process and intensify their efforts to protect the unilateral truce so that aid reaches people in need.” Abrahim said.
“The government is appealing to the international community to encourage this group to discuss and negotiate with the government. The government has offered unconditional negotiation terms for discussions without any precondition anytime, anywhere.”
“There are six million Ethiopians in the Tigray region, and because of the conflict, they have nothing to eat and have suffered a lot. Now their livelihood is based on humanitarian assistance by UN agencies. So that’s why the government has given access to international organisations so that they can take aid to the people. Recently, the TPLF has launched an offensive on the neighbouring areas – Afar and Amhara regions. This has already resulted in catastrophic damage,” he added.
Despite the TPLF rejecting the AU initiatives, the envoy emphasized that Ethiopia looks to the African Union-led peace efforts to bring the best results. He claimed that for the development of all regions to be ensured in the nation of over 120 million people, 70% of whom are young, peace is necessary.
The Tigray region lacks access to basic amenities including electricity, communications, and banking and has experienced severe food shortages.
Before Abiy assumed president in 2018, the TPLF had dominated Ethiopian politics for three decades.
