Pretoria Agreement Implementation At ‘crucial Point’: AU | The Reporter | Latest Ethiopian News Today

The African Union has called for support in what it says is a “crucial point” in the implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.

The call comes amid the First Strategic Reflection on the Implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement, which kicked off in Addis Ababa today, nearly a year and a half after the peace deal was first signed.

“Despite the undeniable achievements made so far, the process of political dialogue, transitional justice and Disarmament, Demobilization and Reintegration are among the important issues that need urgent attention,” reads a statement issued by Moussa Faki Mahamat, AU commissioner.

He was joined today by Olesegun Obasanjo, AU high representative and member of the panel overseeing the peace process; Uhuru Kenyatta, former Kenyan president; and Mike Hammer, US special envoy to the Horn; as well as EU representatives.

The federal government’s delegation included Gedion Timotiwos (PhD), Justice minister; Redwan Hussein, head of the Information Network Security Agency (INSA); and Teshome Toga, head of the Disarmament, Demobilization and Rehabilitation (DDR) Commission.

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The delegation was led by Debretsion Gebremichael (PhD), TPLF Chairperson, and Getachew Reda, President of the Tigray Interim Administration (TIA).

Growing tensions between the federal government and TIA officials over flaws in the implementation of the agreement loom over the talks, which the AU hopes can be solved through negotiations.

TIA and TPLF officials have previously alluded to the possibility of more conflict over the return of pre-war territories to Tigray.

“Indeed, durable and lasting peace in Tigray will not only be a key peace dividend for Ethiopia but also for the Horn of African region. So I cannot urge you enough, my brothers and sisters, to stay the course as we have reached a crucial point of this process, to be able to consolidate the key gains made so far,” Moussa Faki said to the delegates.