Tigray rebels ready to engage in peace talks
Food shortages and widespread famine are among the permanent crises that Ethiopia suffers from.
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Rebels from Ethiopia's Tigray region announced on Sunday their readiness to engage in peace talks led by the African Union, removing an obstacle to possible negotiations with the government to end a violent two-year war.
The African Union hailed the announcement as a "unique opportunity".
The announcement came in the midst of international diplomatic efforts being made since fighting renewed last month for the first time in months in the development of torpedoing a humanitarian truce in northern Ethiopia.
"The government of Tigray is ready to participate in a vigorous peace process under the auspices of the African Union," a statement from the authorities in Tigray said.
"We are ready to observe an immediate and reciprocal cessation of hostilities in order to create a favorable environment," the regional authorities added.
The Ethiopian government has long insisted that the African Union, based in Addis Ababa, sponsor any peace process.
However, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, until its announcement issued on Sunday, was strongly opposed to the high representative of the African Union for the Horn of Africa, Olusegun Obasanjo, playing any role in this regard, justifying its position on the basis of his "closeness" to Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
The Chairperson of the African Union Commission welcomed the announcement by the Tigray rebels on Sunday of their readiness to engage in peace negotiations with Addis Ababa under the auspices of the African Union, considering that the step constitutes a "unique opportunity" to put an end to the two-year conflict in Ethiopia.
In a statement, the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Moss Faki, urged the two parties to work urgently to reach an immediate armistice and to engage in direct talks within the framework of an African Union-led process that includes agreed international partners.
Ethiopian Minister of State for Peace Affairs Tai Dindia said in a tweet that the position of the Tigray People's Liberation Front is a "positive development", but stressed that the so-called (Tigai Defense Forces) must be "disarmed before moving forward with any peace talks."
The position is clear.
The front's position coincides with the Ethiopian New Year, and does not refer to any preconditions, given that the Tigray rebels affirm their adherence to a "credible" peace process with "acceptable" mediators from both sides and international observers.
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