Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) on Wednesday reached a landmark peace deal ending the two-year-long civil war in Tigray. The warring parties agreed to a deal after days of intense negotiations led by the African Union (AU) in Pretoria.
The agreement was signed by Ethiopian National Security Advisor Redwan Hussein and senior TPLF leader Getachew Reda. A joint statement by Reda and Redwan announced that “after 10 days of intensive negotiations,” the two sides “have agreed to permanently silence the guns” in Tigray.
“The conflict has brought a tragic degree of loss of lives and livelihoods and it is in the interest of the entire people of Ethiopia to leave this chapter of conflict behind and live in peace and harmony,” the statement read. It also noted that the government and the rebels had “agreed on a detailed program of disarmament, demobilisation, and reintegration for the TPLF combatants.”
— Rashid Abdi (@RAbdiAnalyst) November 2, 2022
The deal calls on the TPLF to uphold the Ethiopian constitution. To this end, they agreed to implement transitional measures that include the restoration of constitutional order in Tigray, a framework to settle all disputes, and measures to ensure truth and accountability.
“To start implementing these undertakings without delay, we have agreed to stop all forms of conflicts, and hostile propaganda,” the document noted. “We urge Ethiopians in the country and abroad, to support this Agreement, stop voices of division and hate, and mobilise their resources for economic recovery and rehabilitation of social bonds,” it said.
Addis Ababa has vowed to rebuild the infrastructure that was destroyed in the war. The government has also promised to expedite the delivery of humanitarian aid to Tigray. Calling the deal a “new and hopeful chapter in the history of the country,” the statement urged Ethiopians to “embrace the results of these talks and ensure their timely implementation.”
Congratulations all Ethiopians & friends! Just overwhelmed. We should & could have avoided all that mess. I believe we have learned, after burned, we have learned the hard way. Victory is for Ethiopia and peace itself. We must all cheer up and march forward than leaking wounds! pic.twitter.com/GngZoCMafY
— Redwan Hussien (@RedwanHussien) November 2, 2022
The deal also gives the Ethiopian military complete control of Tigray, stating that the military and other federal security organisations “shall take full and effective control” of all major infrastructure, including airports and roads. The AU will appoint a team to monitor the implementation of the deal.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed called the agreement a “monumental” achievement for Ethiopians. He stressed that his government’s “commitment to peace remains steadfast” and vowed to adhere to the terms of the deal. Thanking the AU and South Africa for their contribution, Abiy praised the Ethiopian military for protecting the country.
Reuters quoted Reda as saying that he was happy about the deal as it ended the “death and destruction” and expressed hope that Addis Ababa would honour it.
Expression of Gratitude on the Conclusion of the Peace Talks pic.twitter.com/mB7Q0jLwsZ
— Abiy Ahmed Ali 🇪🇹 (@AbiyAhmedAli) November 2, 2022
Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU’s representative for the Horn of Africa, called the deal an “important step” towards ensuring that there is no fighting and restoring of humanitarian services. “The AU congratulates and commends the Parties for their commitment, diligence and stellar leadership throughout the process, and for prioritizing the Ethiopian people and the supreme interests of the Ethiopian nation,” he said.
Stéphane Dujarric, the spokesperson for the UN Secretary-General, said “is a critical first step towards ending the devastating two-year old conflict.” He pledged the United Nations’ support “to the parties in the implementation of the provisions of the agreement” and urged them to “continue with negotiations on the outstanding issues in a spirit of reconciliation in order to reach a lasting political settlement.”
The United States’ embassy in Addis Ababa praised the willingness shown by the Ethiopian government and the TPLF to resolve their differences. “We welcome the unimpeded delivery of humanitarian assistance and the protection of civilians that should result from implementation of this agreement,” the embassy said.
The AU-led peace talks are a significant step toward peace in northern Ethiopia. We commend the efforts of the @_AfricanUnion, Kenya, South Africa, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development, the @UN, and international partners. https://t.co/jrjPNzEPAu
— Ned Price (@StateDeptSpox) November 2, 2022
Similarly, during a conversation with South African Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken “expressed appreciation for South Africa’s hosting and mediation of AU-led peace talks.” He assured, “The US will remain closely engaged to support the continued AU-led efforts in the weeks ahead.”
Ethiopia has been in the middle of a severe humanitarian and political crisis since November 2020, when PM Abiy ordered a military response to an attack on a federal army camp in Tigray by the TPLF, which was declared as a “terrorist” organisation by the Ethiopian parliament last year. The fighting quickly boiled over into a full-scale armed invasion by Ethiopian troops, who partnered with Eritrean soldiers in their operation.
The conflict in Tigray has killed tens of thousands of people, displaced over two million, and witnessed grave human rights violations, including mass killings, rapes, and deliberate starvation. Both the Ethiopian government and the TPLF have been accused of committing atrocities.
According to the World Food Programme, around 10 million people in northern Ethiopia are in dire need of food assistance and the situation could get worse if aid continues to be restricted. It has also been reported that 40% of Tigrayans suffer from an “extreme lack of food,” 83% are food insecure, and 13% of Tigrayan children under five are malnourished.