The Ethiopian Political Parties’ Joint Council seeks to mediate formal negotiation between the Federal Government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) forces, The Reporter has learnt.
Speaking to The Reporter on Friday, August 6, 2021, Chairperson of the Council, Rahel Bafe (PhD) said that there is an ongoing effort by the Council to bring the two warring parties to the negotiation table. However, she noted, the process is in its early stages.
In an event held at Skylight Hotel, the Council briefed diplomats and other members of the international community residing in Ethiopia, over the position of Ethiopian opposition parties regarding the conflict in the Northern part of Ethiopia.
Speaking at the event, Rahel alluded to the fact that the Council is calling on the two parties in conflict to come together and communicate to conduct an inclusive dialogue and end the ongoing war.
Although the Ethiopian government announced an unconditional unilateral ceasefire as of June 28, 2021, the TPLF’s action continues to spread conflict further, Rahel said and called on friends of Ethiopia and the international community to stand with Ethiopia and play a positive role in helping the country overcome the problem.
“It is becoming apparent that some countries look at it, not from the perspective of Ethiopians who are suffering from unfolding events, but from their national interest and from the geopolitical aspect of it,” Rahel pointed out.
Furthermore, she said “We would like to send a strong message that Ethiopia is the only surviving black nation and has survived the empire of Alexander the Great, the Roman Empire, the Ottoman Empire and the British Empire for 3000 years and this tradition is not going to be broken now.”
Rahel also recalled Ethiopia’s contribution to the peace and security of the world and reminded the diplomats present that “Ethiopia is a country, which sent peacekeepers to Korea and the Congo back in the days, and Liberia, Rwanda, Somalia, and South Sudan, in recent days, playing a significant role by sending peacekeeping forces to different countries.”
