BY TEWODROS KASSA
According to reports of different media houses, the Ethiopian Government and the TPLF have made a historic peace agreement after the African Union (AU) led Peace Talks that held for ten days in Pretoria, South Africa. The Agreement reaffirmed that Ethiopia has only one national defense force, according to the statement.
These and other cardinal principles reached in the agreement to implement include provisions on the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration of the TPLF combatants.
The Government also reaffirmed commitment to immediately embarking on the reconstruction and restoration of basic services, rehabilitation of communities affected by the conflict. The Government is ready to work closely with international partners in this regard.
The Ethiopian Delegation Representative Redwan Hussein said that the agreement is an important milestone towards restoring peace in land of Ethiopia. The people of Ethiopia demands peace and development. The government reaffirmed its commitment to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ethiopia into upholding the Constitution of the country. Ethiopia has only one defense force, he noted.
Accordingly, it is time to resettle all the messes of the last two years and restore peace in Ethiopia. Recently, the Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) in collaboration with the ActionAid held a half day workshop themed “The Role of CSOs in Advancing Transitional Justice in Ethiopia.
On the workshop, Institute of Security Studies (ISS) Senior Researcher Tadesse Simie (PhD) presented a paper on the experience of the country towards undertaking genuine reconciliation and ensuring transitional justice.
As to him, ensuring transitional justice is the fundamental means to sustain the recently signed peace agreement between the Ethiopian government and the TPLF in South Africa.
Ethiopia has lost numerous opportunities of creating conducive way for genuine cooperation and transitional justice in the past half century. In the history of the country, the 1974, 1991, 2018, and 2022 are the major transitional period that sought to create a better future and motivate different groups and ideas to come to the negotiation table.
However, the country has misused the past transitional periods and justice was almost lost due to the unwise use of the opportunities during the 1974 and 1991. Thus, the country should take lessons from the past and; properly utilize the November 02, 2022 peace agreement of South Africa to maintain lasting solutions for the country’s socio-economic trajectory.
According to the Ethiopian Government and TPLF peace agreement statement number six, the two sides have agreed to implement transitional measures that include the restoration of constitutional order in the State and a framework for the settlement of political differences and a transitional justice policy framework to ensure accountability, truth, reconciliation, and healing.
This statement holds the significant part of the peace agreement that reaffirms the two sides unwavering commitment towards ensuring transitional justice which has been neglected during the past transitional periods in the history of the country, he underlined.
Moreover, organizing transitional justice commission, reconciliation and social cohesion mechanisms are important to facilitate the country’s journey towards ensuring sustainable peace. In this regard, CSOs are expected to actively support the transitional peace building process and educate the public to stand for peace rather than hatred and conflict, he recommended.
“CSOs should organize successive training and wide public consultation programs among different stakeholders and motivate people to stand for peace and support reconciliation. They are also responsible to promote the wide traditional Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities, and Peoples’ traditional reconciliation assets available. By doing these, the country could transit to a better future and nurture a prosperous nation that embraces better opportunities for the upcoming generations”, he added.
Ethnic divisions and mistrust, compromising traditional institutions are among the leading challenging factors in the efforts of ensuring transitional justice. On the other hand, finding a common destinations and help rebuild institutions will facilitate the country’s new endeavors of ensuring transitional justice and peace, according to him.
Accordingly, African leadership, equity and non-discrimination, national and local ownership are the core principles of transitional justice and help to ensure transitional justice. Gender and generational dimensions should also be considered to be included in the transitional justice. The National Dialogue Commission (NDC) should also be the other leading facilitator of the transitional justice and peace.
On his part, Ethiopian Civil Society Organizations Council (ECSOC) Executive Director Henok Melese told The Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA) that the council will play a significant role towards maintaining suitable peace in the country through creating successive dialogues among pertinent stakeholders.
“CSOs have enough capacity to coordinate forums that preach peace and cultivate the culture of democratic debates among all groups. Thus, we have been urging the society to give peace a chance; and are ready to broker peace to realize the South African peace agreement.”
It is impossible to ensure lasting peace without ensuring justice. All CSOs should contribute their part to ensure transitional justice and numerous tasks are left ahead to effectively mobilize the public towards peace, he noted.
Meanwhile, the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia (IRCE) appreciated the peace deal between the Ethiopian Government and the TPLF in South Africa on the November 02, 2022. The IRCE also urged all stakeholders’ commitment towards the fulfillment of the peace agreement.
In its statement issued recently in connection with the AU-brokered peace accord, IRCE emphasized that all parties should be responsible towards the fulfillment of the agreement.
Council Secretary General Tagay Tadele said that the agreement is timely and important to all Ethiopians to reap the fruit of peace. “The agreement makes all to be a winner and the two sides should respect the agreement. After now, everyone should refrain from inciting violence among Ethiopians.”
Moreover, peace is the only solution to build a better Ethiopia that accommodates its citizens equally. All Ethiopians at home and abroad should stand together to rehabilitate the areas affected by the war and deliver enough humanitarian assistance to the public in need.
The council also expressed deep gratitude for all actors participated in the realization of the peace agreement. It is time to rebuild the damaged infrastructures together rather than pointing fingers at each other. All faithful also need to pray in their respective religions to see sustainable peace in the country.
The Ethiopian Herald November 11/2022
