TPLF Agrees on African Union-Mediated Peace Talks With Ethiopia Without Conditions

Following the sudden resumption of the fighting in late August, up until this point, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) had strenuously objected to Olusegun Obasanjo's position as the AU's Horn of Africa mediator, protesting against his "proximity" to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.

An impediment to prospective negotiations with the government to put an end to nearly two years of conflict has been removed after Ethiopia's Tigray insurgents declared they are prepared to participate in peace talks facilitated by the African Union (AU) without preconditions, Al-Jazeera reported on Sunday.

According to the report, the declaration was made in the midst of active international diplomatic efforts after violence broke out in northern Ethiopia in August for the first time in months, derailing a humanitarian truce.

"The government of Tigray is prepared to participate in a robust peace process under the auspices of the African Union,” the rebels of Ethiopia's northernmost region of Tigray said. "Furthermore we are ready to abide by an immediate and mutually agreed cessation of hostilities in order to create a conducive atmosphere."

No preconditions were included in the statement, which was released on Ethiopia's new year, but it did indicate that it anticipated a "credible" peace process with international observers and mediators who were "mutually acceptable."

Moussa Faki Mahamat, the chairman of the African Union Commission, was pleased with the declaration from Tigray's authorities and its readiness to take part in an African Union-led peace process, according to the statement.

"The Chairperson underscores this positive development as a unique opportunity towards the restoration of peace in the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia," he reportedly expressed. "In this regard, the Chairperson particularly commends the regional government of Tigray for its readiness to engage in negotiations, in line with a similar call made by the Federal Government of Ethiopia."

Moreover, Faki urged both sides to pursue a ceasefire as soon as possible, engage in direct discussions, and participate in an AU-led process that includes all parties' chosen international allies.

The Ethiopian government has long held that any peace process must be mediated by the AU with its headquarters in Addis Ababa, however, officials did not immediately respond to a proposal, per the reports.

Debretsion Gebremichael, the leader of the TPLF, proposed earlier this month a ceasefire with four criteria, including "unfettered humanitarian access" and the restoration of crucial services in Tigray, which had been devastated by conflict. He also demanded that Eritrean troops leave western Tigray, a territory that is claimed by both the second-largest ethnic group in the nation, the Amharas, and the Tigrayans, in a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

The extension of Obasanjo's term was announced by Faki on Saturday.

I received the AU High Rep for the Horn, H.E. President Olusegun Obasanjo whose mandate has been extended.I reiterated my full confidence in him & encouraged his continued engagement with both parties & intl actors to work towards peace & reconciliation in Ethiopia & the region. pic.twitter.com/BOU1ZNqs7u

— Moussa Faki Mahamat (@AUC_MoussaFaki) September 10, 2022

Faki added that he had spoken with Mike Hammer, the American representative for the Horn of Africa, on Saturday.

"I received the US Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa, Amb Mike Hammer at Africa House today. We agreed on the need for international partners to support the AU-led process with the Parties to end the conflict in Ethiopia," he wrote of the meeting.

Since hostilities resumed on August 24, fighting has erupted on a number of fronts in northern Ethiopia, with each side accusing the other of opening fire and violating a March humanitarian truce. The fighting began near the southeast border of Tigray but has since moved farther west and north.

The TPLF has accused Ethiopian and Eritrean soldiers of mounting a significant joint offensive on September 1. The United Nations stated on Thursday that the escalating fighting has caused a halt to both road and air supplies of much-needed aid to the war-torn region.