The African Union Commission (AUC) has set a date for peace talks in its bid to resolve the conflict in northern Ethiopia.
South Africa has already been chosen to host the talks between the government and the rebel group Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
Today, Redwan Hussien, Security Adviser to the Prime Minister office, disclosed that the AUC has set the date to start the peace process.
The Union “has informed us that the peace talks is set to be held on Oct 24, 2022,” Redwan revealed in a tweet.
“We have reconfirmed our commitment to participate,” the security advisor added.
“However,” he said, “we are dismayed that some are bent on preempting the peace talks”.
They are “spreading false allegations against the defensive measures,” Redwan added without mentioning their names.
On Monday, the government announced its decision to assume control of the federal facilities including airports in Tigray as part of its defensive measures.
“These measures are necessitated not only by the repeated attacks of the TPLF but also by its active collusion with these hostile foreign powers,” it said in a statement.
The move “will also enable the Government to expedite humanitarian aid to people in need, the statement added.
The US and EU issued urgent appeals for a halt to the fighting, as the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said on Monday that the situation was spiraling out of control.
The following day, Redwan responded said the conflict was not spiraling “as opposed to some would like to paint it”.
“It was spiraling when being expanded to other regions. Now, it’s just being extinguished & degenerating,” he said suggesting to the recent gains of the federal army.
Authorities this week confirmed the national defense force has captured Shire, Alamata, and Korem touns from the rebel group.
They also said preparations are underway to restart humanitarian aid delivery to people in need in the captured areas.
