AU special envoy holds "fruitful" talks with TDF leaders

ADDIS ABABA - A little progress has been made in Ethiopia following Sunday's talks between African Union special envoy to the Horn of Africa and Tigray forces leader, in a day that witnessed pro-government protests in Addis Ababa.

Ethiopians supporting the embattled administration of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed gathered at Meskel Square in Addis Ababa, where they stood in solidarity with the federal army, which has been struggling against Tigray Defense Forces [TDF].

But in an unlikely turnout of events, AU special envoy to the Horn of Africa Olusegun Obasanjo, who is also a former Nigerian president, held talks with Tigray leader Debretsion Gebremichael in Mekelle, the capital of Tigray, which has been the center of the conflict.

Getachew Reda, the spokesperson of the TDF, termed the talks between the two leaders as "fruitful". According to him, the TPLF leader regretted the ongoing conflict in Ethiopia and vowed to do "all we can to find a lasting solution.

"President Debretsion of Tigray had a very fruitful discussion with President Olesegun Obasanjo, AU Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa. Debretsion briefed Chief Obosanjo on where Tigray stands regarding the ongoing crisis in Ethiopia. It was a good meeting," he said.

Debretsion Gebremichael is the president of the Tigray region but when the conflict started in November 2020, authorities in Addis Ababa denounced him with the regional ruling party TPFL, installed a new administration. The new administration is yet to take over.

The TDF has continued to push further to the south making it extremely impossible for the national army to reign supreme. In fact, the Ethiopian National Defense Forces [ENDF] has lost several parts of the Afar and Amhara regions to the Tigray rebels.

Last week, TDF vowed to move to the capital Addis Ababa, a move which was condemned by several stakeholders including the United States and Turkey. The United Nations has been calling for a truce between the two warring parties.

But even in the middle of the crisis, the TDF accused Addis Ababa of using special camera drones to do surveillance in the Tigray region. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on his part vowed to crush the rebels, arguing that "it's a painful conflict that we must win".

GAROWE ONLINE