The FDRE Government Communication Service has recently stated that the second-round peace talks between Ethiopian Government and Shene group in Tanzania’s Dare Selam ended without bearing the intended result; it is unfortunate that the desired peaceful accord has not been seen due to the anti-peace stance of the group. Unluckily, the Shene group could not learn from its repetitive and disastrous mistakes; hence, it continued rejecting the persistent call of the government for peaceful discussion. This group has been undertaking several attacks in different parts of the country targeting civilians and public infrastructure over the past three years. Sadly, communities have been suffering from the incalculable damages this group repeatedly caused.
Wisely, the government has pursued a number of means hoping that the group would accept the peaceful discussion and ultimately stop its evil attacks targeting the civilians since the chief aim of the government is to achieve lasting peace and stability across the country. Indeed, the government has carefully been managing things to bring this terrorist group to peaceful talks regardless of the group’s persistent rejection.
More importantly, the Ethiopian government has consistently been demonstrating unyielding labors to avoid any possible conflicts in the last four years. Indeed, it has been undertaking decisive measures that would take the country on a different path of healing and national consensus against all odds. For instance, signing the peace agreement with TPLF at Pretoria, South Africa, and implementing the principles of the agreement to ensure peace and stability can be the clearest indications of its commitment for peace. Following this measure, it ended the two-year of devastating conflict in the northern part of the country. Obviously, the government neither planned nor started any of these conflicts; rather it has been striving to tear down the wall of hatred and build a bridge of harmony.
Moreover, it took several significant measures, including putting an end to all military operations and hostile rhetoric against the TPLF, accelerating and assisting the provision of humanitarian assistance, and facilitating the resumption of all essential services in the Tigray region. Restating its promise to intensify efforts to consolidate peace and ensure the full implementation of the peace agreement, it invited its development partners to support its continued endeavors for lasting peace in Ethiopia. Likewise, hoping for a similar positive result, the government requested the Shene group to accept the call to peace talks.
On the contrary, the group presented unrealistic preconditions to hinder the government’s efforts to see meaningful peace talks. It seems to pursue its evil schemes attacking civilians and damaging public properties as usual. This group, in different parts of the country, caused a number of conflicts that resulted in huge human and property loss while triggering a dire humanitarian crisis and sparking unwarranted external pressure. As the group chose the path of conflicts, the series of negotiations suggested by the peace-loving government and Ethiopians could not meaningfully take place. Perilously, the population and many communities across the nation still face the risk of attack by this group which has constantly committed crimes against humanity and engaged in the massacre of innocent unarmed civilians.
In sum, the government continues pursuing all the peaceful means to ensure peace and stability for its people like inviting any group for peaceful discussions; nevertheless, it has to carry out its responsibility through foiling the schemes of the anti-peace group.
THE ETHIOPIAN HERALD THURSDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2023
