Delegates from the Ethiopian government and rival Tigray forces have begun peace talks in Pretoria, the South African government said, marking the first official assembly between the two warring sides after nearly two years of bloody conflict.
“Peace talks, which have been convened to find a non-violent and lasting solution to the devastating confrontation in the Tigray region, began today, October 25, and will end on October 30,” said Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa. he told reporters on Tuesday.
South Africa is in a position to host and provide assistance to the peace talks, Magwenya said, adding that the country hopes the talks will lead to lasting peace for the Ethiopian people.
The talks are being negotiated through an African Union team, led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, subsidized by Kenya’s former leader, Uhuru Kenyatta, and South Africa’s former vice president, Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka.
The standoff began in November 2020 when Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed sent troops into Tigray after accusing the ruling Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) of attacking federal army camps. Since then, the clash has killed thousands, displaced millions and left thousands of people. More on the breaking point of starvation.
The negotiations, which had been delayed this month for logistical reasons, were encouraged by the United States. On Friday, Washington said it was determined to remain engaged in efforts to promote peace in the war-torn Tigray region. , and also said he was “deeply concerned” by reports of indiscriminate bombings and killings.
The start of talks follows an upsurge in fighting since a humanitarian truce broke down in August. Last week, the Ethiopian army seized three towns (Shire, Alamata and Korem) from Tigray rebels, raising fears that advancing infantrymen could commit abuses. opposed to civilians.
A joint investigation last year by the United Nations and the Ethiopian state-appointed human rights commission found that all parties fighting in the Tigray war had committed violations that would possibly amount to war crimes. The Ethiopian government said last week that its forces respect human rights. .
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk warned last week that airstrikes in the turbulent region could severely exacerbate the “devastating impact” of hostilities on civilians, a day after UN leader Antonio Guterres said the war is “spiraling out of control. “