Demands that all Parties Commit to a Comprehensive Peace Settlement
The Pan African Unity Dialogue (PAUD) condemns the resumption of war between the combined Ethiopian and Eritrean forces on one side and the Tigray Defense Force (TDF) on the other, and demands that all parties commit to negotiations that will lead to a comprehensive peace settlement.
On August 24, 2022 full-scale fighting resumed ending a five-month cease-fire. According to media reports the Ethiopian air-force has conducted airstrikes and drone attacks on Mekele, the capital of Tigray, leading to civilian deaths. The Eritrean military has also reportedly invaded new areas of Tigray and shelled civilian targets with artillery.
Civilians have been the primary targets and the victims in this war with Tigrayans bearing the brunt of the causalities since the region was attacked by the federal army and its allies on November 4, 2020. The new fighting will only escalate the suffering of civilians in all areas of Ethiopia involved in the conflict, especially those in Tigray.
Since the beginning of the war, electricity, banking, transport, and telecommunications—the Internet and mobile phone services—in Tigray were cut off by the federal government. The federal government also imposed a blockade, preventing badly-needed medical, food and fuel supplies from reaching Tigray. During the cease-fire some critical relief supplies had been trickling into Tigray; this has all ended as bullets are once again flying and bombs are being dropped.
It is estimated that as many as 500,000 Tigrayans may have died of starvation, hunger-related diseases, and lack of medical care, as a result of the embargo. This death rate is of genocidal proportions in a region with a population of less than seven million.
The new fighting also threatens to undermine some recent positive developments in the conflict. The leaders of the Tigray region recently announced that it was now embracing an African Union (AU) led peace initiative. Tigray had been reluctant, claiming that the AU peace negotiations coordinator former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, was partial toward Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
There was added momentum toward serious negotiations when former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta was appointed as Kenya’s Special Representative for the conflict. Kenya is expected to play a critical role with its capital, Nairobi, as a possible venue for the peace talks.
PAUD reiterates positions from previous statements demanding that all parties involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held accountable.
Even if Eritrea initially remains on the sidelines, if the international community, including the African Diaspora, offer unqualified support for the AU-led peace talks, the leadership in Asmara may abandon their intransigence.
PAUD reiterates positions from previous statements demanding that all parties involved in war crimes and crimes against humanity must be held accountable.
We impress upon all parties that there can be no military solution to this conflict.
We call for an immediate end to this inhumane embargo to pave the way for the parties to initiate official peace talks.
For the sake of all the people of Tigray, Ethiopia, and all of Africa, the PAUD demands that all the parties agree to an immediate unconditional cease-fire. This will pave the way for the AU to work on announcing a date for the beginning of official peace negotiations.
The mission of the Pan African Unity Dialogue is to “practice Pan Africanism in the United States,” and the “African Diaspora,” by promoting unity, cooperation and action between Continental Africans, Caribbean Americans, Afro-Latinos and African Americans. The goal is to achieve social, economic and political empowerment for people of African descent, Black people, in the U.S. and the global Black community.
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