Teferi Melesse Desta - the Ethiopian ambassador to Britain - told the BBC’s World Tonight that his country had accepted the appointment of the three envoys to mediate in the crisis.

This is what Ambassador Teferi said on the World Tonight: “The government of Ethiopia has accepted the initiative of the African Union chairperson, the President of South Africa, to appoint three special envoys to find a solution to the current situation in Ethiopia”.

The “initiative” was released in a statement following talks between President Sahle-Work Zewde of Ethiopia and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

That initiative was spelled out in detail: “The Envoys will travel to Ethiopia with a view to helping to mediate between the parties to conflict in the sister Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The primary task of the Special Envoys is to engage all sides to the conflict with a view to ending hostilities, creating conditions for an inclusive national dialogue to resolve all issues that led to the conflict, and restoring peace and stability to Ethiopia.”

The AU Special Envoys were named as three former presidents: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf of Liberia; Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and South Africa’s Kgalema Motlanthe.

The mandate of the AU envoys is spelled out in full in the document below.

Ambassador Teferi could not say whether the Ethiopian government would accept the UN Secretary General’s call for an immediate ceasefire to allow aid to be delivered. He denied that there was no access to Tigray.

Earlier UN chief Antonio Guterres called for the opening of humanitarian corridors to assist civilians caught in fighting in Tigray region

“We are very worried about the situation in Ethiopia,” the secretary general told reporters in New York, warning of a “dramatic humanitarian impact” including in neighboring Sudan.

“We have been asking for the full respect of international humanitarian law and also for the opening of humanitarian corridors and the truces that might be necessary for humanitarian aid to be delivered in the areas of conflict,” he said, without specifying where such corridors could be located.

“This is a matter of enormous concern to us, and I hope that these appeals will be heard,” he said. “I hope that this will end soon and that Ethiopia will be able to find the peace it needs for its development and the well‑being of its people.”

Source: Ethiopian Standard

NEWS ALERT: AU CHAIR APPOINTS THREE SPECIAL ENVOYS TO HELP MEDIATE ONGOING CONFLICT IN ETHIOPIA, CREATE CONDITIONS FOR INCLUSIVE DIALOGUE

addisstandard / November 21, 2020 / 5.1k

AU Special Envoys: Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of the Republic of Liberia; Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique; Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of the Republic of South Africa

THE PRIMARY TASK OF THE SPECIAL ENVOYS IS TO ENGAGE ALL SIDES TO THE CONFLICT WITH A VIEW TO ENDING HOSTILITIES, CREATING CONDITIONS FOR AN INCLUSIVE NATIONAL DIALOGUE TO RESOLVE ALL ISSUES THAT LED TO THE CONFLICT, AND RESTORING PEACE AND STABILITY TO ETHIOPIA.

AU CHAIRPERSON AND SOUTH AFRICAN PRESIDENT CYRIL RAMAPHOSA

Addis Abeba, November 20/2020 – The current African Union Chair and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has appointed three African “distinguished Statespersons”: Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique; Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of the Republic of Liberia; Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of the Republic of South Africa – as Special Envoys of the African Union to help to mediate between “the parties to conflict” in Ethiopia, a statement released by the office of the AU Chairperson said.

The statement was released after talks between President Sahle-Work Zewde and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa.

President Sahle-Work traveled to South Africa today in “her capacity as Special Envoy of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.”

PRESIDENT RAMAPHOSA HAS EXPRESSED HIS GRATITUDE TO HIS EXCELLENCY PRIME MINISTER ABIY AHMED FOR ACCEPTING THIS INITIATIVE, AND AFFIRMING THE COOPERATION OF THE ETHIOPIAN GOVERNMENT IN FACILITATING THE WORK OF THE SPECIAL ENVOYS.

The fighting between the Ethiopian federal armed forces and the Tigrayan armed forces started on November 04 after PM Abiy gave order to federal forces to start offensive against TPLF in Tigray after he said the TPLF “took measures” and “tried to rob the Northern Command,” based in Mekelle, the capital. He also accused TPLF “opened war through Dashlah.”

Below Is The Full Statement

Chair of the African Union HE President Cyril Ramaphosatoday received HE President Sahle-Work Zewde of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia, who paid a visit to South Africa in her capacity as Special Envoy of HE Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

President Sahle-Work briefed President Ramaphosa. about the conflict in Ethiopia between Tigray and the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Ethiopia. President Ramaphosa informed President Sahle-Work Zewde that he, as Chairperson of the AU, as well as the AU family of nations, were deeply concerned about the conflict that has broken out in Ethiopia. President Ramaphosa expressed his deep desire that the conflict should be brought to an end through dialogue between the parties.

President Ramaphosa informed President Sahle-Work Zewde that as African Union Chairperson he has appointed three Distinguished Statespersons – His Excellency Mr Joaquim Chissano, former President of the Republic of Mozambique; Her Excellency Madame Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, former President of the Republic of Liberia, and His Excellency Mr Kgalema Motlanthe, former President of the Republic of South Africa – as Special Envoys of the African Union. The Envoys will travel to Ethiopia with a view to helping to mediate between the parties to conflict in the sister Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia.

The primary task of the Special Envoys is to engage all sides to the conflict with a view to ending hostilities, creating conditions for an inclusive national dialogue to resolve all issues that led to the conflict, and restoring peace and stability to Ethiopia. President Ramaphosa observed: “Ethiopia occupies a place of pride and honour in the history of Africa, having successfully resisted colonialism, and played a leading role in the decolonization of Africa. The decision of the Founding Fathers that Africa’s foremost Continental organisation, the Organisation for African Unity (OAU), should be established and headquartered in Addis Ababa, was a fitting tribute to Ethiopia’s role as a symbol of African unity. In keeping with this rich tradition and history, Ethiopia hosts the African Union (AU). It is against this background that the ongoing conflict is a matter of great concern not only for countries in the region of the Horn of Africa, but for the continent as a whole.”

President Ramaphosa’s initiative should be viewed against the background of the African Union’s objective of #SilencingTheGuns, that is intended to achieve a conflict-free Africa, prevent genocide, make peace a reality for all and rid the continent of wars, violent conflicts, human rights violations, and humanitarian disasters.

The appointment of Special Envoys seeks to help the fraternal people of Ethiopia find a solution to the current problems, in the spirit of solidarity, guided by the dictum of “African solutions for African problems.” President Ramaphosa has expressed his gratitude to His Excellency Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed for accepting this initiative, and affirming the cooperation of the Ethiopian government in facilitating the work the Special Envoys. In her engagement with the AU Chair, President Sahle-Work underlined the special relationship between Ethiopia and South Africa. She outlined the historical origins of the current conflict and expressed the need for the African Union to assist Ethiopia in finding a solution.

President Ramaphosa welcomed the insights provided by President Sahle-Work as an important contribution to the work that will be undertaken by the AU Special Envoys who are due to travel to Addis Ababa in the coming days. President Ramaphosa said the AU was not only concerned about the conflict in Ethiopia but wished to contribute to a process that could lead to dialogue and an end to fighting that has cost many lives and extensive displacement of people.

10 comments

K.Terry Brown says:

November 20, 2020 at 11:34 pm

There is hope then that the dialogue Tigray has always asked for will be honoured. HOPE!

1. Gebrie says:
  
  November 21, 2020 at 8:52 pm
  
  Is there country in the world discussing with teririst organization and group? They are responsible for all ethinic conflicts the death of innocent peoe especially Amhara, Amhara for the past more than thirty years and the very latest MiKadran. It has to be cleared that TPLF is completely different from innocent Tegrians. The truth shall prosper!!
  
2. Abdi gahnoog says:
  
  November 22, 2020 at 9:14 pm
  
  Without TPLF Abiy Ahmed could never have dreamed of being in power. It was TPLF-led government that arranged the federal system which made it possible for people like Abiye to have a chance of ever being prime minister
  
Rigat Abraha says:

November 21, 2020 at 12:24 am

Great to hear. In the meantime, they can ask for a ceasefire . To prevent farther human loss.

Asfaw says:

November 21, 2020 at 3:41 am

Never trust Abiy!he promised to bring about victory in 3 days and now we’re in 3rd week.
He exposed the north command for attack by tplf and plenty of them massacred.The remaining force has been librated from entangled position by Amara special forces.Now let alone negotiating in real terms the news “back to table negotiation” would embolden the old guards of tplf and it’s army, conversely Ethiopian army would be disgraced by such acts.
The general public support to Abiy would decline that would lead to his expulsion from power.It is joke on the heightened national spirit of Ethiopians.Abiy isn’t man of his word, emotional and act like immature youngster.If you align with him,be sure he would expose you to risk.He isn’t reliable person to expose you to enemy.Rather than respecting his allies,he negotiate at the interest of allies with the enemy.That is we experience from him for the last 2 and half years!

Tilahun Ayele says:

November 21, 2020 at 5:01 am

I don’t understand why the African Unions are taking a lot of time to stop this conflict people are dying getting genocide on the northern Ethiopia Tigray

Solomon Wolde says:

November 21, 2020 at 9:22 am

The time for negotiation is over. I think, the discussion may focus on humanitarian corridor to assist the wounded and food distributions to reach the needy peopel.

Samson Librta says:

November 22, 2020 at 2:15 am

It’s good start & wish it ends with hope. We thanks African Union for the initiative.
Ever blaming other & can’t look into yourself is the never achievable lesson.
God bless the victims in all the scenarios

Melvin Big Woanyen says:

November 22, 2020 at 8:40 am

When will Africans end hostilities and embrace one another as descent and sound people created by God?

Merenptah Asante says:

November 23, 2020 at 2:16 am

Egypt has discussed destabalizing Ethiopia to stop GERD. Tigray junta is a terrorist organization of non combatants. You do not negotiate with terrorists. Tigray is a regional province in Ethiopia under influence of Egypt to stop GERD. The junta is sponsored by Egypt and has been accepting arms from Egypt. Egypt thinks 0.6% of a population of 110, 000, 000 is a civil war. Egypt wants Ethiopia weak.