Nigeria’s former leader and High Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the Horn of Africa, His Excellency Olusegun Obasanjo has stated the readiness of all parties to a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict between the Federal Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front -TPLF.
In Obasanjo’s statement, he said his recent engagements with the leaders of Oromia and Amhara regions show a willingness to be committed to a peaceful resolution of the conflict and that on his scheduled return to Ethiopia he would meet with the leadership of the Afar region.
The Nigerian former President while saying he is optimistic that a common peaceful resolution to the conflict can be secured stated that he has also met with leaders across the region including the Presidents of Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti, South Sudan, Somalia, and the leadership of Sudan in the quest to find a peaceful resolution to the Ethiopian conflict.
President Obasanjo appealed to all sides to halt their military offensives and allow for an opportunity for dialogue to continue to progress, he also called on all people of goodwill and leaders in Africa and the international community to continue to support the mediation efforts and to refrain from actions or rhetoric that will, wittingly or unwittingly, worsen the conflict.
The High Representative of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission for the Horn of Africa in his statement stated that dialogue remains the only reliable and sustainable avenue to peace and that there is no military solution to the conflict and battlefield victory cannot guarantee political stability in Ethiopia.
The representative of the AU chairperson in his signed statement said he remains dedicated to the cause of peace, and that we will continue to work towards this goal, without which human security and development cannot be achieved.