[By Teklay Giday, Mekele]
War is never a desired outcome, but the escalating tensions and the breakdown of dialogue between the TPLF and the federal government of Ethiopia suggest that both sides are bracing for a protracted conflict. The implications of renewed hostilities could be devastating, not only for Tigray but for Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa as well.
The federal government of Ethiopia must acknowledge the genocide committed in Tigray. The acknowledgement can lay the groundwork for reconciliation and sustainable peace that benefits the country. Peace is essential for the well-being of the affected populations and for fostering long-term stability in the whole country. Ethiopia is already grappling with economic and humanitarian crises and may find itself on the brink of further upheaval. As the people of Tigray brace for the impact of renewed violence the most, the international community must urgently seek to mediate and restore a semblance of peace. The consequences of inaction could lead to an escalation of war that undermines the Pretoria peace agreement.
Since the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement on November 2, 2022, the TPLF has been using the peace agreement for its political gambling to stay in power. At the same time, the Eritrean government has been working tirelessly to sabotage the Pretoria peace agreement and provoke a conflict between Tigray and the federal government of Ethiopia, exploiting Abiy Ahmed’s protracted delay tactic and unwillingness in implementing it. As a result, the Eritrean government and the TPLF have led in the formation of an “alliance (ፅምዶ)” strategy against the Abiy Ahmed government. This alliance has led to increased tensions in the region, as both parties seek to consolidate their power and influence.
The TPLF has now torn down the peace agreement and has established an alliance with the Eritrean government. This alliance has the potential to reignite tensions and conflicts once again. The people of Tigray vehemently oppose and condemn the alliance because they understand well about Shaebia and President Isaias Afewerki’s repeated treacherous betrayals and strategy, which is to use Tigray for his trench warfare against the federal government of Ethiopia. This alliance is leading to a deep sense of distrust among the Tigrayan populace, who fear that their region will once again become a battleground for external ambitions rather than a place of peace and stability.
The federal government of Ethiopia must acknowledge the genocide committed in Tigray. The acknowledgement lays the groundwork for reconciliation and sustainable peace that benefits the country. To counter the Eritrean government’s war aggression and the TPLF manoeuvring for war, the people of Tigray and the federal government of Ethiopia should reconstitute the Tigray Interim Administration to be all-inclusive to foster trust and mutual understanding and restart the peace dialogue without the TPLF as a matter of priority. This approach empowers the voices of all Tigrayans and facilitates a more effective negotiation process to implement the Pretoria peace agreement. Peace requires the collective efforts of all stakeholders, and by embracing inclusivity, the Tigray Interim Administration can better represent the diverse perspectives within the region.
The establishment of all-inclusive interim administration and council will remove misunderstandings, bring about solutions to end the war and lay down the foundation for lasting peace in Ethiopia. It is imperative that Tigray and the Ethiopian government engage in constructive dialogue in good faith to address Tigray’s territorial integrity according to the Ethiopian constitution and return the IDPs to their homes safely to maintain lasting peace and reconciliation for all.
The instability in Tigray and Ethiopia will remain at risk with the potential for further escalations in regional conflicts if diplomatic efforts are not pursued earnestly and the Pretoria peace agreement is not implemented fully. It is imperative that the international community and mediators recognise the unwillingness to implement the Pretoria peace agreement and take decisive action to uphold the agreement, ensuring that all parties adhere to their commitments and prioritise the welfare of the populations, which is exacerbating the sufferings of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and the human rights abuses in the occupied Tigray territories.
Recently, Debretsion said, ና2013 መስደመም ዓወት ኣድሚቕና ክንደግሞ ኢና:: The TPLF seems to use war as a solution to maintain its power. Unless the people of Tigray firmly say no to the TPLF, another war will be devastating to the loss of many lives again. It is very sad that Tigray is led by visionless and incompetent leaders.
Tigray’s future lies without the TPLF. We, the Tigrayan people, must engage in the struggle to end the TPLF authoritarian regime in order to realise our democratic rights, accountability, freedom, liberty, and economic prosperity for all by eliminating the few TPLF oligarchy networks.