ADDIS ABABA, NOVEMBER 09, 2021 — President Olusegun Obasanjo, African Union's High Representative for the Horn of Africa, after visiting Mekelle on November 07, briefed the AU's Peace and Security Council and later briefed the United Nation Security Council virtually.
Below find his full statement to the UN Security Council.
---
His Excellency, Juan Ramón de la Fuente, President of the UN Security Council;
Your Excellency, Antonio Guterres, Secretary of the United Nations;
Excellencies, Members of the Council;
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen;
It is a great pleasure, an honor, for me to be invited to the briefing to this body to discuss the situation in Ethiopia within the context of agenda its item Peace and Security in Africa.
I wish to express my heartfelt thanks and appreciation to the President and Members of Council for this invitation.
If you allow me to exchange views on pertinent unfolding developments on one of the strategic countries in the continent of Africa. I will also wish to the thank the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for my nomination on the 26 of August, 2021, as the African Union High Representative for the Horn of Africa to intensify engagements with all relevant political actors and stakeholders towards promoting an entrenching and durable peace and stability within the Horn of Africa as well support to AU led strategies and diplomatic interventions in the region through the facilitation of inclusive political dialogue, reconciliation and social cohesion processes.
The appointment is a delicate one for two principal reasons. It is the first appointment by the AU of High Representative for an entire region. Second reason is that each of the eight countries in the region have a specific context.
My assignment is part of the AU's drive to promote peace, security, stability and political dialogue all over the Horn of Africa region. It has allowed me to engage with most of the leaders of the region, relevant bilateral and multilateral partners as well as key political actors and stakeholders especially in Ethiopia.
I have also paid visit to meet with the President of Republic of France, leaders of European Union. I have also traveled to the USA where I met the UN Secretary General and the US Secretary of State.
This initial visits offered me the opportunity to discuss with world leaders about the objective of the appointment as well as to solicit the logistical and all other supports towards the implementation of my mandate.
Since I began the assigment, I have briefed the AU Peace and Security Council on two occasions. First on the October 28, 2021. Second, only this morning specifically on the situation of Ethiopia.
Mr. President, it is pertinent to point out that the crisis situation in northern Ethiopia has continued to drastically deteriorate in recent weeks, leading to a serious escalation of the situation. I have been following these developments with keen attention, and it is owing to the rapid changes in trend that I am paying another visit here in Ethiopia to engage all stakeholders for the de-escalation of the situation. It should be noted that following days of reports of intense fighting in the north of the country, the Ethiopian cabinet declared on 02 November a nationwide state of emergency with immediate effect, while the central authorities urging the citizens to prepare to defend the capital. The mass demonstration yesterday, 07 November, as well as other similar demonstrations in several cities in support of the federal government is evident of this reality.
Distinguished members of the Council, since my arrival in Ethiopia on 4 November, after my visit to Sudan on the day earlier, I have met with the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, the President of Ethiopia and the President of Oromia and had meaningful discussions with them on the ongoing escalation with reflections on how to de-escalate tension to pave the way for dialogue. During my meeting with him, H.E. Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed agreed that I pay a visit to Mekelle to meet his adversaries.
It is in this context that I traveled to Mekelle yesterday, 07 November 2021, to engage the leaders of the northern region in an effort to de-escalate tension in order to find an amicable solution to the situation. As a summary to our discussions, all these leaders here in Addis Ababa and in the north agree individually that the differences opposing them are political and require political solution through dialogue. This, therefore, constitutes a window of opportunity that we can collectively tap into to assist the people of Ethiopia find lasting solution to the ongoing crisis. It is, however, needful to mention that the window of opportunity we have is very little and that time is paramount for any intervention in this regard. The ongoing conflict situation continues to have severe humanitarian consequences on the population, with huge impact on socioeconomic development and stability. The time is now for collective actions in finding lasting solution to avoid further escalation of the situation which may have direct effect on the strategic Horn of Africa region as a whole.
Your Excellency President of the Council, please permit me following the foregoing to urge the Council to consider the following:
i. Strongly urge and encourage the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) to engage in political dialogue without any preconditions;
ii. Call for an immediate and unconditional comprehensive ceasefire and cessation of hostilities by all parties;
iii. Call for immediate and unhindered humanitarian access;
iv. Call on the parties to ensure respect and compliance with international humanitarian and human rights laws;
v. Call for an immediate commencement of an all-inclusive nationwide dialogue and reconciliation.
vi. Call on the international community to rally behind the AU-led process in order to ensure coherence and unity of purpose for our peacemaking efforts in the Horn of Africa and particularly in Ethiopia.
In the last 24 hours, Mr. President, I have visited Mekelle. I have consulted the Prime Minister of Ethiopia, the President of Tigray, the President of Oromia region and the President of Federal Republic Ethiopia. I have also consulted with the Chairperson of AU Commission. Tomorrow, I will be paying a visit to Amhara region and Afar region. All in effort to harmonize the views of the leaders in the area of withdrawal of troops from regions that are not theirs and also maintaining humanitarian access. All these are believed to be very important and they are areas of priority that most of the leaders that I have consulted with have indicated. And I hope before the end of this week to have a program in hand that will indicate how we can get the humanitarian access and withdrawal of troops to put together to meet the immediate demands of the stakeholders.
Thank you very much, Mr. President for listening to me!
Comments
Post a Comment