This Friday, February 3, the Ethiopian Prime Minister received a high-level delegation of TPLF leaders. A first since the signing of the Pretoria peace agreement three months ago.
A few months ago a meeting between Abiy Ahmed and the main leaders of the Tigray rebellion, including the commander-in-chief of the TPLF, Tsadkan Gebretensae would have been unthinkable. It is therefore a striking image to see the Ethiopian Prime Minister at the discussion table with his enemies in the TPLF, talking to each other in a luxurious hotel south of Addis Ababa.
The scene obviously contrasts with the conflict which claimed hundreds of thousands of victims in two years. This Friday, yesterday’s enemies met at the request of Tigray executives, according to a source close to the presidency.
Outstanding questions
In any case for Abiy Ahmed’s security adviser, present this Friday at these political talks, it was a question of evaluating the progress in the peace process that began three months ago in Pretoria and confirmed five weeks ago by the return of Ethiopian ministers and big bosses to Tigray and which had resulted in the resumption of air transport and banking services. This new political stage comes to intensify what has been put in place.
There are still important outstanding issues, mentioned by state media, such as the possible presence of Eritrean troops and accusations of atrocities launched by the TPLF.
In any case this Friday evening at the end of this great premiere, the spokesperson for the rebellion assured state television that the time was no longer for a return to war.
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