Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo pushes back against TPLF accusations, rejecting claims of partiality and calling the group’s public disclosure of confidential information irresponsible
Borkena Desk
TORONTO, Canada — On Sunday, the TPLF released a statement expressing its commitment to negotiation and peaceful settlement while rejecting the former Nigerian president as a negotiator.
The group stated that Mr. Obasanjo received orders from the federal government and lacks the attributes of a neutral mediator. The organization stated, “His conduct has increasingly raised serious questions about whether he is acting independently or at the behest of the Federal Government.”
Mr. Obasanjo responded that he “does not take orders from the Federal government,” going further to characterize the TPLF’s actions as “irresponsible.” He said making confidential information public to gain attention is irresponsible. He also noted that some TPLF leaders have been belittling efforts during the Pretoria Agreement to fit their own agenda.
Obasanjo served as the chief mediator in the Pretoria Agreement, which ended the conflict between the federal government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) in November 2022 after two years of devastating war.
In its latest statement, the TPLF accused the international community and the African Union—under whose name Obasanjo acted as chief negotiator—of abandoning the implementation process of the agreement.
The return of displaced people and what the TPLF calls “Tigray’s sovereign territory” were among the key issues the TPLF has complained about in connection with the agreement. On the other hand, the federal government has accused the TPLF of obstructing plans to return displaced people and failing to disarm its combatants.
Mr. Obasanjo’s latest mediation effort came after tension between the federal government and the TPLF renewed to the point that both sides have been preparing for war.
EU member countries, the United States, and Canada—among other diplomatic missions in Addis Ababa—supported the initiative for talks as they called for TPLF leaders to avoid another round of war.
Meanwhile, the federal government has carried out drone strikes in the Tigray region for months. The latest strike occurred on Tuesday in Hintalo district. Regional authorities reported that three civilians—all from the same family, including a toddler—were killed in the attack. While the federal government claims it is hitting “military targets,” the killing of civilians is confirmed by several media outlets in the region.
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