Falls Church, Virginia (09/12/2022) – On September 11, 2022, the Government of Tigray External Affairs Office released a statement indicating their willingness to embark on a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union (AU). This peace process would involve an “immediate and mutually agreed cessation of hostilities”, mutually acceptable mediators, and international observers to ensure the credibility and transparency of the process, stated the Regional Government of Tigray. OLLAA welcomes this call and urges that all parties to the conflict work to bring an immediate end to the conflict and engage in an inclusive dialogue.
Other international actors have welcomed the announcement by the Regional Government of Tigray – which comes after an earlier statement by the Ethiopian Government that they would be willing to enter in talks without preconditions. The Spokesperson for the UN Security General Antonio Guterres released a statement reiterating UN support for an AU-led peace process and calling on the parties “to seize this opportunity for peace and to take steps to end the violence definitively and opt for dialogue.”. The AU Commission Chairperson H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat also welcomed the development, urging “both Parties to work towards an immediate ceasefire, engage in direct talks, in an AU-led process that is inclusive of mutually agreed international partners”.
US Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken released a press statement commending the AU for its efforts in bringing the TPLF and Ethiopian government together for talks, and expressing the readiness of the US and other international actors to support a peace process: “The United States supports Ethiopia’s unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity and wants to return to a strong partnership.” The EU has similarly emphasized it’s readiness to support the peace process.
While OLLAA warmly welcomes the proposed peace process and celebrates the readiness and support of international actors to bring about a cessation of hostilities in the Tigray region, we once again emphasize that there can be no true resolution to the conflict in Ethiopia without addressing the volatile situation and humanitarian crisis afflicting other regions – including Oromia. We express our disappointment that once again international actors including the United States have failed to condemn the outbreaks of violence and conflict that has been occurring across the Oromia region, including a recent string of massacres in the Horo Guduru Wollega zone. We believe such action shows a double standard by the international community in how it views conflicts in the north versus the south, with inaction risking further bloodshed by emboldening actors.
We reiterate the need for all violence and hostilities across the country to cease, and urge the international community to pay equal attention to the other crises occurring throughout Ethiopia, such is in Oromia. We urge for an inclusive national dialogue to follow and work towards genuine peace across the entire country.
OLLAA is an umbrella organization that represents dozens of Oromo communities around the world.