Ethiopia-Tigray peace deal welcomed with cautious optimism

Ethiopia’s announcement of a cessation of hostilities between the government and the rebels in Tigray after over a week of negotiations led by the African Union in Pretoria, South Africa has been hailed by the United Nations as “a very welcome first step“ and as a “major breakthrough“ by Washington, while other world leaders are reacting with cautious optimism.

The warring sides announced Wednesday (2 October) an agreement to silence their guns after two years of devastating conflict that have claimed thousands of lives and left millions needing aid in Africa’s second most populous country. The surprise deal between Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s government and Tigrayan rebels was unveiled after little over a week of negotiations led by former Nigerian president Olusegun Obasanjo.

The deal calls for the disarming of Tigrayan forces with both parties agreeing to “permanently silence the guns.” The parties agreed to “stop all forms of conflicts, and hostile propaganda,” calling Ethiopians within the country and abroad to support efforts for lasting peace. The brief joint statement notes “a detailed program of disarmament” and “restoration of Constitutional order” in Tigray. The Ethiopian government also committed to restoring public services in the Tigray region, where communications, transport and banking links for more than 5 million people have been severed since war broke out. “Students must go to school, farmers, and pastoralists to their fields, and public servants to their offices,” the statement read. The parties also committed to allowing unfettered access to humanitarian relief organizations.