By staff writer
Nairobi, Borkena — The European Union has expressed concern over the recent tensions that have emerged in the Tigray region.
In a brief statement posted on its social media page on Saturday, the EU condemned the actions of the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
The European Union had previously imposed sanctions on Ethiopia during the Tigray war, but two months ago announced it was lifting these measures and resuming aid to Ethiopia.
The EU highlighted the TPLF’s establishment of a “parallel regional council” and its ongoing compulsory military conscription in the region, stating that these actions violate articles of the Pretoria peace agreement signed in November 2022.
The European Union called for urgent dialogue between the two signatory parties—the Ethiopian federal government and the TPLF—to ensure the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement.
The EU also stated that it fully supports the efforts of African Union High Representative President Olusegun Obasanjo to promote peace and stability.
Months have passed since the TPLF, whose legal recognition was revoked by the electoral board, removed the interim administration appointed by the federal government and reinstated the council it claimed won the election held before the war.
Following a decision in April by the TPLF’s “Central Committee” to reinstate the “Tigray government council” elected six years ago, this council reappointed former regional president Debretsion Gebremichael as president.
The TPLF, which is accused of seizing power through a “coup,” has been reported to be conducting compulsory military conscription.
Recently, the controversial law issued by the TPLF “to ensure the survival and security of the Tigray people” permits compulsory military service.
This week, the Speaker of the region’s “council,” Mihret Berhe, issued a directive for the immediate implementation of the law.
The compulsory military conscription has drawn significant criticism from politicians and human rights advocates, with Human Rights Watch recently calling the law “oppressive.”
A group called the “Tigray Peace and Change Council,” which claims to have “removed” the TPLF-controlled regional government and was established in Addis Ababa last month.
The United States announced this month that it has imposed visa restrictions on extremist TPLF members and their families who it says are involved in undermining peace in Ethiopia.
The TPLF condemned the US visa restrictions as “unbalanced,” arguing that the US action does not reflect the reality in Tigray and has failed to hold the federal government accountable.
In a brief statement issued on Friday, the US Embassy in Ethiopia urged unidentified actors it claims are “hindering” the peace process in Tigray to cooperate with dialogue efforts.
It also urged political and civil society leaders to engage in political dialogue and ensure the full implementation of the Pretoria Agreement to achieve lasting peace.
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I second(all of us should do the same) EU’s call for political dialogue and all cessations of hostilities by the leaders in Tigray and those at Arat Kilo. If this call is ignored and destructive war erupts again in that region, leaders of both sides should be held responsible and more so Debre and his entourage. There isn’t a single issue that can not be addressed and solved through honest political dialogue. None!
The ICC At The Hague should take a note of this and charge Debre and his entourage with crimes to wage war. This mobilization of the youth and every able person is not to protect those noble people of Tigray but it is meant to serve as human shields for Debre and his goons.
The European Union had been a development partner during the time of the EPRDF and supported the peace mission in Somalia. The EU also understands the stabilizing role of the regional power Tigray and its right to defend itself. Tigray has chosen the diplomatic path to the peaceful resolution of conflicts with the brutal regime of Abiy Ahmed. But now more and more Tigrayans are demanding swift military action against the regime and regime change in Ethiopia since Abiy Ahmed refuses the diplomatic alternative. The military alternative is on the table and that is why Abiy Ahmed is begging the US and EU to press Tigray.