The Reporter (Ethiopian Reporter English)

NEWS ALERT

Tigray officials urge AU to ensure Pretoria agreement implementation

Parties to the Pretoria agreement and African Union (AU) officials convened today to discuss the implementation of the peace deal that ended the two-year war in late 2022.

Following the presentation of a report on the status of the peace process in Tigray, Olesegun Obasanjo and members of the AU Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) department acknowledged that much remains to be done in the region.

Also present at the meeting were Tigray Interim Administration (TIA) President Getachew Reda and TPLF Chairman Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD), who have been at the center of an escalating political feud in the regional state.

Both called on the AU, the federal government, and the wider international community to step up their commitment to the implementation of the Pretoria agreement.

“There are a number of issues we still have not addressed. DDR is one. But most importantly, the IDPs languishing across Tigray must return to the constitutionally mandated territories of Tigray,” said Getachew.

Debretsion echoed the sentiments.

“The Pretoria agreement was a pivotal moment but we have to go a long way before its full implementation. Critical components like the constitutional restoration of Tigray’s territory, the withdrawal of non-ENDF forces from Tigray, the return of IDPs, and the reinstatement of TPLF legal party license, remains [to be done]. These require accelerated actions,” said the party chairman, calling for the AU to enhance verification and monitoring mechanisms.

Gedion Timothiwos, minister of Foreign Affairs, also urged for more direct dialogue “to make sure belligerent rhetoric has no place in national and regional discourse and reject overtures to or from spoilers of peace in our country, whether local or foreign.”

AU officials responded by acknowledging the work that remains to be done, and calling for concerned parties to remain steadfast in their commitment to the peace deal.

“Contested areas must remain neutral until the issue is resolved,” said Obasanjo.