Renson Mwakandana
The execution of the ceasefire agreement between government forces and Tigray fighters in the north has been discussed in a conversation between US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
In a tweet, Mr. Blinken stated that he and the Ethiopian Prime Minister ”discussed the urgent need to implement the cessation of hostilities agreement and to secure lasting peace in northern Ethiopia.”
In a transcript of his phone conversation with the president of Ethiopia, Mr. Blinken emphasized the urgency of putting the agreement into action right now, including the evacuation of all foreign soldiers and concomitant disarming of the Tigrayan forces.
Mr. Abiy has previously reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to the peace accord. The US was committed to supporting the African Union-led effort, including its monitoring and verification system for the peace deal, according to the secretary of state.
In Tigray and the neighbouring Afar and Amhara areas, Mr. Blinken acknowledged continued efforts by the Ethiopian government “to strive towards unrestricted humanitarian aid and restoration of essential utilities.”
Regional forces from Amhara and Afar, as well as Eritrean soldiers, have been battling Tigrayan fighters alongside the federal forces.
In an unexpected move, the Ethiopian government and the Tigrayan fighters decided to put an end to their two-year struggle on November 2. There have been hunger warnings and thousands of deaths as a result of the violence.
