US Horn envoy to attend AU-hosted strategic review of Pretoria agrmt

Addis Abeba -U.S. Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa (SEHOA), Mike Hammer, is due in Addis Abeba between 7-13 March where he is scheduled to attend “an African Union-hosted strategic review of the implementation of the Pretoria Cessation of Hostilities Agreement between the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF),” State Department said. His travel, which extends until 20 March, will also include a trip to London and Rome.

“While the guns have been silenced, it is necessary to undertake additional steps essential to achieving a lasting peace, including expedited progress on disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration; sustained action on a credible transitional justice process; and accelerated activities to enable the return of internally displaced,” the State Department’s readout said.

Furthermore, Ambassador Hammer will also meet with Ethiopian government officials “to discuss efforts to advance dialogue to end the violence in the Amhara and Oromia regions, as well as review broader regional issues.”

The scheduled “strategic review” meeting by the African Union is the first since the signing of the Pretoria agreement and comes a week after the Tigray Interim Administration has announced its decision to engage with the federal government regarding the agreement exclusively through the African Union.

“Forthcoming discussions will be exclusively conducted through the African Union Panel,” said the regional administration after the decision was passed by regional council.

The interim administration said discussions with delegates from the African Union (AU), designated mediators, and the federal government will take place in the coming weeks with the aim of addressing the persistent challenges related to the full implementation of the Pretoria agreement.

Source:-Adis Standard