Coming up: Announcement on outcome of federal, Tigray top military commanders meeting in Nairobi
Addis Abeba – The top military leadership of the federal army and Tigrayan forces have been meeting in Nairobi, Kenya, Since Monday 07 November, reportedly discussing as a priority item Articles 5 and 6 of the cessation of hostilities agreement, which respectively talks about humanitarian access and disarmament of Tigrayan combatants. The meeting was initially scheduled to end on Wednesday 09 November, but has been extended to today.
The announcement is expected to happen anytime today. But it is not clear if there will be alive media streaming from the venue.
What to expect
The Nairobi meeting is expected “to discuss and workout detailed modalities on the implementation including, disarmament issues, taking into account the security situation on the ground” as is mentioned in the statement below, as well as “provide a roadmap for immediate humanitarian access and restoration of services in the Tigray region.”
There has been concerns over delays as humanitarian access remain blocked despite the permanent cessation of hostilities agreement, which stipulated the immediate resumption of unimpeded humanitarian supply to Tigray.
The issue of the withdrawal of foreign forces from the sovereign territory of Ethiopia in the Tigray region is expected to be the sticking point in the outcome of the meeting between the two sides. Although Eritrean forces are fully engaged in the war since the beginning, the text of the cessation of hostilities does not acknowledge Eritrea by name, but mentions instead “foreign forces.”
Today’s announcement is expected to put a more concert roadmap to ensure the full resumption of unimpeded humanitarian supply as well as timetable for the restoration of basic services including telecommunication and banking, which has been severed by the federal government for more than a year now.
The federal government of Ethiopia signed the cessation of hostilities agreement with Tigrayan forces on 02 November, in South Africa, following an AU-led negotiations to peacefully resolve the two years war that has ravaged Tigray, Afar and Amhara regional states. AS
