Going long distance, the Ethiopian government has exerted unreserved effort to make reality the peace talks on the issue of the country’s northern part conflict. It boldly and with commitment expressed its willingness to sit on a round table anywhere and anytime valuing the prevalence of peace for the country in general and for the Tigray people in particular.
Unfettered humanitarian access addressed since long ago for the needy in the region indicates the high concern of government to the people. Government’s stance in this regard stayed unchanged that peace should be given upper hand than destructive war since the earlier times of the brutal attack TPLF committed against the northern command of the Ethiopian defense force that followed by loss of many lives and destruction of properties and infrastructures worth billions of Dollar.
Again, permission the US and EU Special Envoys given to travel their first joint mission to Mekele, Tigray, to encourage the launch of talks between the government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) under the African Union’s auspices reveals the government’s widely stretched hand for peace.
On the contrary, TPLF’s stagnant stance hanging up unnecessary preconditions showcases its rigid behavior cultivated since from the very beginning of its inception that lasted to date. With this odd behavior, it magnified its real inhuman identity when exposing its own people to death and starvation. Instead of putting peace as a dominant precondition, it raised other issues that can be addressed following prevalence of it. In fact, as per its track record indicates, the group could not develop habit of finding solution for serious issues through peaceful talks. Rather, it used to find from the mouth of the gun though unable to do so in its late attempt.
Being the only enemy of Tigray people when putting preconditions and using as play cards, TPLF has gone long distance to externalize the matter as the accountability lies on the Ethiopian government. Doing so, it is fighting not for the wellbeing of Tigray people that is forced to face hardship life under its leadership; rather it is sacrificing children of the people for its existence.
Though it is uttering about readiness for peace talks, no practical signals seen yet that indicates its readiness. For instance, it has not listed out its negotiators yet. Besides, it continued raising questions on the role of the AU as a moderator that got acceptance by the US and EU Special Envoys.
Government’s stance in this regard is clear that African solution is the best solution for African problems. Unfortunately, according to the Ethiopian government, the Special Envoys team failed to press for unequivocal commitment for peace talks, and rather indulged in appeasement and fulfilling preconditions placed by the other party.
Any entity or institution that claims for the prevalence of peace in Ethiopia, should take into account the efforts the government has exerted so far and the obstacles the TPLF is putting on the way to abort the peace talks. This is the best time to impose pressure against the party that is going contrary to the interest of the country as a whole and the Tigray people in particular. Moreover, Tigrayans residing inland or elsewhere, should consider the issue; feel the pain of the people and place pressure on TPLF to take peace as a dominant precondition.
6 August 2022
