Laying Foundation For Credible Peace Talks

As the widespread conflict in the Amhara region of Ethiopia shows no sign of dying anytime soon, the efforts launched a fortnight ago by the Amhara Region Peace Council (ARPC), an ad-hoc committee which claims to be drawn from various sections of the Amhara people, is a welcome initiative that could help resolve the conflict through peaceful means. The destructive clashes between the Ethiopian National Defense Force (ENDF) and the Fano, an irregular force that is composed of volunteer militiamen from the local populace, for over a year now is presently the gravest security crisis Ethiopia is facing, resulting in the death of thousands and displacing even more from their homes, the destruction of both public and private properties, as well as the disruption of basic social services like medical treatment, education and transportation. Although the Amhara region was placed under a state of emergency for ten months beginning from August 2023, no change has come about as a result of the measures federal and regional security forces took to counter what the government claims are attacks by “armed extremist groups which posed an increasing threat to public security, endangered the constitutional order, and caused significant economic damage.”

While the ARPC’s call for the peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in the Amhara region can be regarded as a step in the right direction, there are a host of issues that need to be dealt with first if peace is to be restored in the region. Chief among these is the involvement of honest brokers. In a conflict characterized by seemingly irreconcilable differences, a neutral party which facilitates discussions and negotiations without pushing its own agenda and guarantees the safety of the persons taking part in talks is vital to ensure that all voices are heard and that decisions are made fairly and objectively. Given ARPC’s members may not enjoy trust by all sides to the conflict, it’s of the essence that the process be led by unbiased mediators, including local elders, religious leaders, and neutral third parties to have any hope of getting off the ground.

In conjunction with appointing credible intermediaries the parties must also commit themselves to undertake confidence-building steps to create trust, reduce tensions, and pave the way for a negotiated settlement of the violence racking the Amhara region. In view of the complex and multifaceted nature of the conflict, implementing effective confidence-building measures is essential to creating an environment that is conducive for peacebuilding and reconciliation. The first and most critical of these measures is establishing a ceasefire. A temporary cessation of hostilities can create space for dialogue, reduce the risk of further violence, and demonstrate a willingness to resolve the conflict through peaceful means. Providing unhindered humanitarian access to affected populations and facilitating the delivery of life-saving assistance is also key for building confidence among communities affected by the violence. Addressing the immediate needs of vulnerable groups, such as food, shelter, and medical care, and ensuring the resumption of government services and road transportation will go some way towards developing mutual trust among the warring parties.

As things stand presently the prospects for peace talks between the government and Fano militants do not seem to be realistic due to the lack of unity among the latter. The absence of a shared ideology and the internal friction riving the disparate Fano groups jockeying for influence has prevented them acting as a unified force. Understandably, engaging individually each group is not only a challenging proposition for the government, but also hobbles the chances of achieving and sustaining peace in the region. It would be safe to surmise that this is precisely why the APRC urged the Fano to forge unity and any other go-between will do likewise. The militants must therefore be able to act and speak as one if any peace-making initiative is to succeed.

Needless to say ending the conflict devastating the Amhara region with an accord that lays the foundation for enduring peace is not a stroll in the park. Should the peace talks the ARPC is attempting to arrange are bound to be complex and time consuming if they ever start off, it is imperative that the negotiating parties do whatever is necessary to strike a comprehensive peace deal which addresses the root causes of the conflict. This requires of both the government, Fano militants and all other stakeholders to abandon ingrained animosities, embark on confidence-building measures which help create conditions that are conducive for talks, and show the courage to stop the fighting however disappointed their support base and allies may be. The parties to the conflict must realize that attaining a military victory is impossible. As such they should not use negotiations as a ruse to buy more time. Setting in motion a credible peace process is the only way that the conflict in Amhara can be sustainably resolved.