AU Announces Launch of Peace Talks in South Africa to End Northern Ethiopian Conflict

A statement released today by African Union said that the Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat is pleased to announce the launch in South Africa of the first direct talks between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF.)

The Talks are facilitated by Olusegun Obasanjo, the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa and former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, along with former President Uhuru Kenyatta of the Republic of Kenya; and former Deputy President Dr Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka of the Republic of South Africa.

Representatives of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the United Nations (UN) and the Government of the United States of America (USA) are participating as observers to the AU-led peace process, it was indicated.

In this regard, the Chairperson expresses his profound appreciation to President Cyril Ramaphosa and the Government of South Africa graciously for  accepting to host the talks in the spirit of pan-African solidarity to find African solutions to African problems.

The Chairperson reiterates the AU’s continued commitment to support the Parties in an Ethiopian-owned and AU-led process to silence the guns towards a united, stable, peaceful and resilient Ethiopia.

Source: Ethiopia News Agency