US hails Obasanjo, others as Ethiopia’s peace talks hold in S’Africa

The United States has commended the South Africa for hosting peace talks between the government of Ethiopia and Tigrayan regional authorities over the conflict that have been going on for awhile.

In a statement released by the Secretary of State, Antony Blinken on Tuesday while supported the African Union Representative, Olusegun Obasanjo, former South African Deputy President Mlambo-Ngcuka, and former Kenyan President, Uhuru Kenyatta as mediators.

The United States also welcomed the start of negotiation by (AU)-led peace negotiations between the two authorities in South Africa today, urged the delegations to engage seriously in these talks to reach a lasting resolution to this conflict.

US said the first priority is to essentially achieve an immediate cessation of hostilities, while calling on the delegations to agree on unhindered delivery of humanitarian assistance to all those in need, measures to protect civilians, and Eritrea’s withdrawal from northern Ethiopia.

The Secretary of State said he has spoken with Kenyan President Ruto, South African Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Pandor, and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy to convey the urgency of ending this conflict now.

“I will continue to consult with the AU on forging a political resolution to this destabilizing conflict. There is no military solution to this conflict, and these talks represent the most promising way to achieve lasting peace and prosperity for all Ethiopians”, he said.

Meanwhile, the negotiations, led by the African Union (AU), follow a fierce surge in fighting in recent weeks that has alarmed the international community and triggered fears for civilians caught in the crossfire.

“South Africa is hosting peace talks to end the conflict in the Tigray region,” Vincent Magwenya, spokesman for President Cyril Ramaphosa, told reporters.

The talks “have been convened to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the devastating conflict,” he said, adding that they would run until October 30.

World Health Organisation Director General, Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said, “Due to the siege in Tigray, Ethiopia, many people have died of starvation, man made famine and lack of access to essential health care in past two years.

“Many dying including Children due to daily carpet bombing by Eritrean and Ethiopian forces. We need peace and safe humanitarian access”, Ghebreyesus urging.

Reports have it that millions displaced, brutal attacks on civilians. A soaring death toll. Deliberate attacks on infrastructure. And little hope of a negotiated exit. Ethiopia’s northern Tigray region is enduring probably the most brutal and deadly war being waged in the world today.

Assessing the true toll which is impossible given that most communications cut off, researchers at University of Ghent estimated that between 380,000 and 600,000 civilian lives alone have been lost, with 30,000-90,000 killed in direct attacks, but most dying for lack of food or healthcare.

Nearly half the population is in severe need of food aid. There is clear evidence of war crimes by all parties, including widespread sexual violence, although civilian casualties are believed to be overwhelmingly Tigrayan according to report.

The conflict broke out in November 2020, following a political dispute in which the federal and regional Tigray governments declared each other illegitimate.

The Ethiopian prime minister and Nobel peace prize winner Abiy Ahmed said he was launching a strike on the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) because it had attacked an army base. Eritrea joined his cause.

Many fear that the TPLF could regain the political dominance it enjoyed for decades, while others accuse the prime minister of a power grab. The conflict has become messier, more fractured and more entrenched as it has gone on, with the neighbouring Amhara region also drawn in.