By HANA-MARIAM TESHOME
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken held a phone conversation with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed on Monday, during which they discussed the ongoing implementation of the 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement (COHA) that ended the two-year conflict between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The agreement, signed in Pretoria, South Africa, on November 2, 2022, has led to a significant reduction in violence in the Tigray region, but challenges persist.
Secretary Blinken reaffirmed U.S. support for Ethiopia’s efforts to implement the COHA and underscored the importance of continuing political dialogue to address the country’s internal conflicts.
He expressed growing concern about escalating violence in the Amhara region, which has seen renewed conflict following the cessation of hostilities in Tigray.
The U.S. State Department has noted the need for comprehensive political dialogue to address these emerging tensions and broader national challenges.
During the call, the Secretary emphasized the need for Ethiopia to accelerate the voluntary return of displaced persons, ensure the withdrawal of non-Ethiopian forces from Tigray, and support a credible and inclusive National Dialogue aimed at national reconciliation.
The U.S. has previously acknowledged the progress made since the COHA’s signing, including the return of displaced people, the restoration of essential services, and the commencement of the Disarmament, Demobilization, and Reintegration (DDR) campaign in Tigray.
However, both the U.S. and the TPLF have highlighted that critical elements of the agreement remain unfulfilled.
The TPLF, in its own statement marking the second anniversary of the agreement, acknowledged progress but noted that many issues, including the occupation of certain areas of Tigray and the continuing displacement of residents, still need to be addressed.
In its recent statement, the U.S. State Department welcomed Ethiopia’s steps toward transitional justice, including the adoption of a Transitional Justice Policy and a roadmap for its implementation.
However, it called for faster action to ensure that all aspects of the COHA are fully implemented.
As tensions rise in the Amhara region, the U.S. government continues to press for political solutions and dialogue to ensure stability in Ethiopia and the wider Horn of Africa region.
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