African Union lauds
Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki Mahamat expressed his satisfaction ovrt the commitment and the courage reflected by the government of Ethiopia and the people towards the realization of the peace process.
The AUC Chairperson expressed his gratitude to all individuals, groups and institutions who contributed to peace negotiations and the subsequent agreement signed between the federal government and the TPLF.
โI know that much remains to be done. The process of political dialogue, transitional justice, disarmament, demobilization and reintegration are the activities that need collective efforts. And, everything is possible as far as peace is maintained,โ he added.
โEthiopia knows the price of war and the price of peace. Ethiopia also possesses the collective wisdom and experience to rebuild back better and stronger. It is these qualities that have cemented Ethiopiaโs credentials as a leader in our Union,โ the Chairperson underscored.
โThe region needs this leadership from Ethiopia, Mosssa Faki said, calling Sudanese to learn from Ethiopiaโs experience.
The former president of Kenya, Uhuru Kenyatta, for his part, said that Ethiopia process testifies that Africans can solve their own problems by themselves. The rest of Africa should learn from Ethiopiaโs experience to ensure peace and development in the continent.
Former Nigerian President and and High Representative of the AU to the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo also stated that โwhen the guns are silenced peace will return.โ
He appreciated the leadership of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and the bold measures taken by the Ethiopian government towards the fruitfulness of the peace process.
Olusegun Obasanjo acknowledged all individuals and institutions and governments including the Republic of South Africa and Republic of Kenya for their contribution to the session of hostilities of agreement.
The African Union (AU) High Representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, former Nigerian President has commended his Excellency Dr. Abiy, for his steadfastness and the bold steps he took in the interest of peace, and added โWe really commend your effort; of course, we cannot fail to mention the bravery of the leadership of TPLF.โ
A program under the theme โEnough with War; Let Us Sustain Peaceโ was organized to honor and recognize those who have contributed to making the Pretoria peace agreement a reality.
While delivering his remarks on the occasion, the AU High Representative for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo said :
Peace is always a collaborative process to be achieved and sustained, he stated, and added that the success of the Ethiopian peace process owes a debt or gratitude to many others including AU and its organs, the people and government of South Africa.
The AU High Representative underscored โsince the deployment of the Monitoring, Verification and Compliance Mechanism to monitor the implementation of the cessation of hostilities agreement, we are continuing to register positive gains in the field, thanks to the will of the parties and broader population.โ
According to him, it is imperative to continue providing the necessary support for the monitoring, verification and compliance mechanism in order to harness the gains and maintain momentum.
Following the handover of heavy weapons, the next step is demobilization, Obasanjo pointed out, and elaborated โthe question of small arms and light weaponsโฆ the full relocation of combatants to designated sites, the resumption of schools, public transport and health services will become the focus of attention and critical to the success of the implementation process of the cessation of hostility agreement.โ
It is important that momentum is not lost in the implementation of the cessation of hostility agreement because of our standing in political issues, he stated, and stressed โIt is therefore; important that the political dialogue should start urgently so that the Ethiopian people can define their future together and ensure that they never again go to war against one another.โ
The High Representative urged all to reaffirm their commitment to peace and to work with and support Ethiopian government and people to repair the damage brought by the terrible war, as ENA reported.
Obasanjo invited all to continue cooperating and supporting the AU as it accompanies Ethiopia on this journey of reconciliation, rehabilitation, reconstruction, durable peace and development.
Moreover, he noted โI have great hope for the unity, peace, security, stability, development and progress of this country as one of the leading nations โฆ of Africa in the needed future. You have what it takes to be in that position.โ
Getachew Reda, Interim Administration Chief Committed to Peace Building
The People of Tigray will not allow any attempt of reversing the prevailing peace, Getachew Reda, Interim Administration Chief, underscored.
The Chief Administrator made the remark at an event organized under the theme โEnough with War; Let Us Sustain Peaceโ to honor and recognize those who have contributed to making the Pretoria peace agreement a reality.
During the occasion, Getachew called on all citizens to work in unison to ensure peace in Ethiopia.
He commended the progress being registered following the Pretoria Peace Agreement.
Getachew also commended Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for his bold moves to realize peace, expressing his hope that such moves should continue in the future too.
According to him, the confidence between the federal government and TPLF has been drastically improving for the two sides to opt working in close partnership for peace, for there is no any other alternative to it.
The people of Tigray doesnโt allow its peace to be reversed, he said stressing the need to sustain the ongoing peace building efforts with a view to expedite development as it is our only shared destiny.
To this end, he called on all politicians to work in close collaboration.