On the heels of the Pretoria peace deal inked by the federal government and TPLF with a view to ending the northern conflict and restoring stability in the country, Ethiopia has embarked on bringing home the bacon by implementing the peace agreement almost immediately.
In good truth, the agreement which includes a ceasefire beyond a shadow of a doubt plays a paramount role in guaranteeing peace and providing a firm ground for safeguarding the country’s sovereignty and territorial unity. Aside from that, the peace accord would smooth the path of reinstating essential services, paving the way for unrestricted humanitarian assistance, and even ensuring permanent cessation of hostilities.
Albeit some entities know the constructive steps surfacing following the suspensions of hostilities, they have been unremittingly engaged in throwing cold water on the efforts of the federal government and confounding the global community with faulty information. In spite of the fact that nobody benefits from war and other destructive acts, some entrepreneurs of war have been changing nonstop the narratives of the existing circumstances on the ground.
No matter what scaremongers and wet blankets say Ethiopia has jumpstarted putting the peace agreement into action in a rewarding manner with no trouble.
As things currently stand, Ethiopia’s adversaries that are displeased with the cessation-of-hostilities agreement and its implementation have been leaning over backward to thwart the agreement and ignite another round of war. They have been as well throwing themselves into dragging the positive initiatives of the implementation of the peace process through the mire with the usual fake news.
For the sake of truth, Ethiopia has passed through many ups and downs, on account of a wide spectrum of setbacks that emanate from the war that lasted two years in the northern part of the country. However, in the present climate, the federal government has set in motion restoring essential services and allowing unrestricted humanitarian in the Tigray state.
In the aftermath of the Pretoria peace agreement, the government has been implementing the peace process aimed at safeguarding peace and tranquility, which are the foundation and pillar of every nation in the world. As the agreement gives rise to ending the conflict and the suffering of innocent civilians in the shortest possible time, all and sundry should stand by the side of the government for the realization of the peace agreement.
As implementing the peace agreement is a new dawn for Ethiopia, and plays a huge role in taking the country and the entire horn of Africa to the next level, pertinent bodies should join hands more than ever before. In sharp contradiction to the positive changes, to everyone’s dismay, some groups have been getting themselves involved in pouring cold water on the positive achievements of the government attempting to blacken and distract the implementation of the peace process.
The government of Ethiopia and TPLF, signatories of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) in Pretoria, announced that the implementation of the truce is underway in a good manner.
Accordingly, Government Communication Service (GCS), Legesse Tulu stated that the government has been fulfilling its responsibilities for the realization of the peace accord to ensure the equal benefits and unity of the people. Lasting peace comes from inner desire and our commitment to look inward and heal our wounds. If we are able to look at the bigger picture and hope for the future, then lasting peace can be achieved.
Externalizing and echoing problems that are arising from doubt and fear can never be part of the solution. Accordingly, it is important to take concrete steps and the federal government is fully executing its responsibilities based on the CoHA, the minister added.
The government is also facilitating humanitarian aid and medical supplies from partners to Tigray through all corridors which are part of the Pretoria Agreement. Groups of professionals in each sector are working together to restore basic services and some public institutions have already resumed operation.
Legesse further stressed that this tangible effort and the desire of the government to implement the CoHA should be replicated by the TPLF side; adding that curtailing the destructive activities of some groups which want to ruin the truce, is something worth considering. Optimism and committed action from every Ethiopian are crucial to establish lasting peace in the country.
For his part, commander of Tigray combatants Taddesse Werede said that in some areas, leaders of the TPLF forces and the Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) are meeting in person and discussing the implementation of the agreement. The disarmament process is progressing well according to the agreement reached in Nairobi, Kenya.
TPLF forces have been receiveing orientation in the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) process and various activities have also been carried out to raise public awareness in this regard. The orientation would be completed soon.
After the disengagement of forces from areas of deployment, they would be transported to rehabilitation and orientation centers and all the necessary preparation has been finalized to this end. “Other activities have also been carried out in accordance with the CoHA in a clear manifestation of our commitment to implement the truce,” Taddesse noted.
The Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (CoHA) between the government and TPLF respected the constitutional order and asserted that any group should operate in accordance with the law of the land, a governance and law expert said.
Speaking to the Ethiopian Press Agency (EPA), the expert Aaron Degol stated that the peace accord was conducted with a party that was operating outside of the legal system and to prevent its destructive activities that went to a full-fledged war.
Law enforcement is the best way to describe the CoHA, as the federal government has been doing in the past. It is the correct expression of a movement to reverse destructive activities and restore the legal system because a state has acted beyond its authority and violated the federal system.
As to the expert, establishing an Election Commission is the exclusive power given to the Federal Government under the Constitution, and states are not empowered to form those commissions. “Tigray is one of the 11state administrations and the federal government was right that the state’s 2020 election was unconstitutional.
“The constitution clearly states that the federal government has the sole authority to enact laws regarding elections and political parties and it has been decided that the House of Peoples’ Representatives will enact laws regarding the matter. Therefore, the establishment of the election commission is not state jurisdiction.”
By the same token, Ethiopia has one defense force and the constitution allows state governments to organize state police but does not explicitly authorize them to establish a special force. Tigray has gone beyond Special Forces to organize a defense force and this is also against the law of the land, Aaron elaborated.
Foreign relations are also the exclusive jurisdiction of the federal government and state governments cannot be related to foreign bodies as sovereign countries and the truce also restored this authority, the expert elaborated. “States that border with neighboring countries could enhance the people-to-people and economic ties only with the federal government’s recognition and approval.
It is unconstitutional to establish and operate a foreign relations office with a foreign body without the recognition of the federal government. Thus, the CoHA is the instrument to preserve Ethiopia’s territorial integrity and respect the country’s sovereignty that derives from the constitutional order, he stressed.
In the present circumstances, as the government has been fully engaged in implementing the cessation of hostilities agreement, all stakeholders should stick up for the government with the purpose of ensuring law and order. More to the point as the peace agreement has a share in creating a culture of harmony and nurturing a better country for each and every one residing under Ethiopia’s skies, everyone should join hands for the successful implementation of the peace accord
BY ADDISALEM MULAT
The Ethiopian Herald November 27/2022
