The rebels of Tigray (Ethiopia) are open to a peace process led by the African Union

Sep. 12 (EUROPA PRESS) –

The regional forces of Tigray, in northern Ethiopia, have announced this Sunday that they are open to a ceasefire in the open war they have had with the country’s central government for two years, and have explained that they would accept a peace process led by the African Union (AU).

The Ethiopian government had said before the announcement that it was ready to organize meetings “anytime, anywhere”.

The president of the African Union Commission, the Chadian Moussa Faki Mahamat, has welcomed the announcement to achieve peace in the country.

Mahamat has highlighted “this positive event” as a “unique opportunity” to end the conflict. Thus, he has congratulated the regional government of Tigray for its willingness to enter into negotiations.

In this sense, the AU member has urged both parties to work urgently to achieve an immediate ceasefire, by participating in direct talks with the participation of mutually agreed international partners.

Likewise, Mahamat has called on the international community to strengthen support for the peace process.

The United Nations has spoken along the same lines, since the spokesman for the UN Secretary General, Stéphane Dujarric, has called for both parties – up to now in conflict – “to take advantage of this opportunity for peace and take measures to put a definitive end to the violence.

“The secretary-general encourages the parties to actively participate in the AU-led process in good faith and without delay and to create conditions conducive for the talks to take place,” the UN statement said.

In addition, the Secretary of State of the United States, Antony Blinken, has congratulated the African country for its progress in the peace process, in a message addressed within the framework of the Ethiopian New Year, which was celebrated this Sunday.

“The United States stands with the people of Ethiopia and supports ongoing diplomatic efforts to realize their desire to live in peace,” Blinken said.

The American politician has congratulated the African Union for its work to achieve a resolution of the conflict. “International partners are ready to support this process,” he assured.

“The United States supports the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and wants to return to a strong partnership. In the spirit of the new year, we call on the country’s leaders to put Ethiopia on a path that ends the suffering and achieve lasting peace,” Blinken said in a press release issued by the State Department.