In Mekelle, Ethiopia, the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) has decided to pull out of key locations, creating room for the resettlement of internally displaced persons (IDPs) affected by a two-year conflict resolved in 2022.
Getachew Reda, the interim Tigray region leader, shared on social media that Tigrayan forces have initiated the withdrawal from Garjale and Baqlo_Manaqia villages near Alamata, as part of an agreement with the Ethiopian federal government and the Amhara administration.
This move is in compliance with the Pretoria and Nairobi peace treaties that guided the ceasefire in northern Ethiopia. The Ethiopian government and Tigray authorities are diligently working on implementing the agreement, under the watchful eye of former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta.
President Getachew stated that the primary goal is to ensure the safe return of Tigrayan IDPs to their homes, aligning with the Pretoria Peace Agreement. More efforts are underway to facilitate a larger-scale return of displaced Tigrayans.
Although stability is slowly returning to Ethiopia, internal conflicts continue to hinder progress. The country is currently facing tensions with Somalia, its neighboring state, which has accused Ethiopia of occupation.
Ethiopia reached an agreement with North Western of Somalia, a breakaway region, where Ethiopia would receive 20 kilometers of the Red Sea for constructing a military base and port in exchange for recognizing North Western of Somalia as a sovereign state. Somalia denounced this as a violation of its sovereignty.
Overall, Ethiopia is making strides towards peace and stability, despite ongoing challenges both internally and with its neighbors.
– AXADLETM
