BY DARGIE KAHSAY
The Ethiopian Government had prepared a special event to recognize the actors that participated in the peace talk agreement to arrest the war in Northern Ethiopia peacefully. Ethiopia closed the file of a two-year long war through peace negotiation under the umbrella of the African Union.
The African-based homegrown solution in Ethiopia was successful to put a stop to the deadly conflict in Northern Ethiopia. Following the continuous efforts to mediate the actors under the chairmanship of African Union, the peace negotiation achieved its target. Finally, the two parties, the Ethiopian Government and the Tigray Peoples’ Liberation Front (TPLF) signed a cessation of hostilities agreement (CoHA) in Pretoria to end the war on 02 of November 2022.
Though the commitment and readiness of the Ethiopian actors to end the war peacefully was the first step to realize the peace initiative, the mediators under the African Union made the peace talk effective. Thanks to the mediators that lead the peace talk to signing, the final CoHA in Pretoria, the Northern Ethiopia conflict was over immediately following the agreement, which was made effective as of 03 November 2022.
During the past six months, following the Pretoria Peace Agreement, the progress to realize and sustain peace was promising. Practical developments have become palpable. Almost all services were restored, Interim Administration has been already established in Tigray. Regional and federal government officials are visiting Tigray. Players have continued discussing on post-war reconstruction and rebuilding initiatives.
For the past six months, guns were fully silenced in Northern Ethiopia. The federal government has continued to work with the regional interim administration of Tigray to facilitate the rehabilitation, reconstruction and rebuilding efforts.
To celebrate the peace agreement and the progress on the ground, to honor and recognize the peace makers, the Ethiopian government had prepared a recognition ceremony last Sunday under the theme of “Enough with war, let us sustain Peace!” at Friendship Square, a beautiful park at the heart of Addis Ababa.
During the day, African Union (AU) high level officials, African Union Special Envoy to the Horn of Africa and chairman of the peace talk, members of the peace talk mediators, diplomats of different countries based in Addis Ababa, representatives from South Africa, Kenya, U.S.A’s special envoy to the Horn of Africa were invited to attend the ceremony. In addition, peace negotiators of both parties, from the Ethiopian Government and from the TPLF sides as well as other high level federal and regional government officials did attend the event. uring the event, Prime Minister Ahmed (PhD) appreciated the role of African Union, other African countries and friends out of Africa who played a great role in realizing the objective of the talk to achieve peace in Ethiopia. The recognition was provided to all who participated in the peace agreement, the mediators, observers and negotiators of the two parties.
This shot was taken during the recognition program in Addis Ababa. The picture shows a handover ceremony of a handmade portrait of Olusegun Obasanjo, painted by Ethiopian artist in a home-grown painting style. The former President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, is AU’s especial envoy for the Horn of Africa and the chairman of the Ethiopian Peace Talk.
On August 2021, the African Union Commission Chairman appointed Obasanjo as AU’s high representative for the Horn of Africa and since then, Obasanjo was working to mediate the parties in Ethiopia .He finally achieved it. Obasanjo’s efforts played a crucial role to end the war and to reach a final peace agreement in Pretoria.
In cognizance of his peace making role, Ethiopia has honored him. The recognition ceremony comprised three parts. The first step recognition entailed certificate of recognition, the second part consisted of certificate of recognition and medal award, while the third and the highest recognition went to Olusegun Obasanjo which includes certificate of recognition, a medal and a special gift.
During the recognition ceremony, not only the mediators and the political negotiators, the Ethiopian Government recognized the role of the military officials from both sides as they contributed their part to the actualization of the peace process. Following the Pretoria Agreement, high military officials from the ENDF and the TPLF forces met in Nairobi and discussed about the implementation of the ceasefire, which facilitated the implementation of the peace deal on the ground.
To recognize the role of the military officials in the peace making process, Ethiopia recognized the ENDF Chief of Staff, Field Marshal Birhanu Jula during the ceremony. The above picture was taken while Field Marshal Birhanu Jula was receiving the compliment from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
On the other hand, the picture on the left shows TPLF’ forces commander, Lieutenant General Tadese Worede, receiving the recognition from Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. He had also attended the Nairobi discussion for the implementation of the ceasefire and the peace process that focused on military issues. During the ceremony, all political, civil and military officials that did take part in the peace talk process from both parties were recognized.
The Ethiopian herald April 30/2023
