Tigray Agrees to End Hostilities After Ethiopian Govt Calls Truce
The Ethiopian government issued a declaration of humanitarian truce in the Tigray regional state effective from March 24, 2022. Addis Standard reported that the government called for a significant increase in the support of humanitarian assistance by the international community. On March 25, 2022, Tigray responded with a statement in which it committed to implementing a cessation of hostilities effective immediately, Addis Standard reports. “The Government of Tigray will do everything it can to make sure that this cessation of hostilities is a success,” the statement read, further urging authorities to take concrete steps to facilitate unfettered humanitarian access to Tigray.
The conflict between Ethiopia and Tigray began in November 2020, when the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) went ahead with regional elections in Tigray State, despite a central government decision to postpone polls due to the Covid-19 pandemic. An East African analyst Dr Abdiwahab Abdisamad said at the time that “the Tigrayans are opposed to PM Abiy Ahmed because they are the elites and remnants of (former prime minister) Meles Zenawi. They oppose his policies and are powerful because they took advantage of Meles’ years in power to enrich themselves.”
An attack by Tigrayan militants on an Ethiopian army base followed the regional elections, leading to a conflict that has seen the displacement of hundreds of thousands of Ethiopians and Tigrayans fleeing their homes to neighbouring countries. There has also been reports from organisations such as Human Rights Watch, of various human rights violations by Ethiopia, Eritrea forces and Tigrayan militants. Reports of the burning of civilians, allegedly by Ethiopian forces, have also been received.
Ethiopia has been slammed by organisations like the UN who urged the government to allow for unhindered aid to people, while the AU remained unclear, despite seeking support for its peace mission to Ethiopia, which was led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo. Ethiopia has also been faced with proposed sanctions, particularly from the U.S..
Peace in Ethiopia would be more than welcome for Africa and the rest of the world, particularly in light of the current conflict between Russia and the Ukraine.
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