– Ethiopia’s gov’t accepted the invitation
The African Union invites the warring parties in North Ethiopia to sit for negotiation on October 9, 2022 in South Africa. The invitation was made when the conflict between the federal government and the Tigray People Liberation Front (TPLF) led government in North Ethiopia escalated after more than six months of a largely peaceful period, with significant casualties on both sides.
The Peace talks between the two parties is expected to deliberate on the guiding principles, agenda issues, modalities, format and timelines for the negotiated settlement aimed at laying the foundation for a structured and sustained mediation between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the TPLF, towards durable resolution of the conflict, the AU said.
The Peace talks will be facilitated and led by H.E Olusegun Obasanjo, AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and former President of Nigeria, with the support of a panel of distinguished and eminent Africans, according to the same source.
Uhuru Kenyatta, former President of the Republic Kenya, and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, Member of the AU Panel of the Wise and former Deputy President of the Republic of South Africa, will serve as panelists for the peace talks process.
Ethiopian government welcomed the move.
The African Union’s official invitation is consistent with the Ethiopian Government’s prior positions and It is known that the Government of Ethiopia has expressed that, talks should only be mediated by the African Union and should be held without any pre-conditions, said the Federal Government Communications Service.
