JOHANNESBURG
Peace talks between the Ethiopian government and Tigray rebels to end a devastating confrontation in Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region began Tuesday in South Africa, according to a presidential spokesman.
South Africa hopes the talks will continue constructively and lead to final results leading to lasting peace for all Ethiopians, Magwenya told reporters.
The African Union-led talks come weeks after clashes between Tigray forces and fighters intensified.
The talks are facilitated through a panel led by former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the AU’s top representative for the Horn of Africa.
The members are former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, former Vice President of South Africa.
The talks are expected to end a nearly two-year standoff that has killed thousands and displaced millions more since November 2020.
There has been heavy fighting in the northern region since a month-long truce broke last August, with reports of widespread casualties and other rights violations.
A report released last month by UN human rights experts accused both sides of committing abuses bordering on war crimes and crimes against humanity.