By Ian Mutiso
Parties in the Tigray conflict in Ethiopia, on Wednesday, signed a peace agreement after successful peace talks in South Africa.
Former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo moderated the peace talks along with African Union High Representatives for the Horn of Africa, including, former Kenyan president, Uhuru Kenyatta and former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngucuke.
In a press conference held after the signing of the pact, Obasanjo announced that the two “parties have agreed to a permanent cessation of hostility as well as to systematically, orderly smooth and coordinate this amendment, restoration of law and order, protection of civilians among other areas of this agreement.’’
The agreement has been termed a “new dawn” for Ethiopia, ending two years of conflict beginning in November 2020, in the Tigray region of Ethiopia.
Thousands of civilians have lost their lives in the war, millions displaced, hundreds of thousands pushed to the brink of famine, and numerous human rights violations.
The Ethiopian government representative, Redwan Hussein said, “It is now for all of us to honor this agreement, the people of Ethiopia expect positive outcomes and benefit from the truce.’’
While the Tigray Representative, Getachew Reda hailed the deal saying, “We are ready to implement and expedite this agreement. In order to address the pain of our people, we have made concessions because we have to build trust.’’
He also added that “ultimately the fact that we reached a point where we have signed an agreement speaks volumes about the readiness on the part of the two sides to leave the past behind them and chart a new path of peace.”