The Pan-African Parliament’s (PAP) Plenary has adopted a Motion congratulating the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia and Tigray People’s Liberation Front on signing the peace talks. The motion was moved by Hon. Felix Okot Ogong and seconded by Hon. Domai Gatpan Kulang at the currently underway First Ordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the PAP in Midrand, South Africa.
The Ethiopian government and regional forces from Tigray recently agreed to cease hostilities, a progressive diplomatic breakthrough two years into a war that has killed thousands, displaced millions and left hundreds of thousands facing famine.
Just over a week after formal peace talks mediated by the African Union (AU) began in the South African capital Pretoria, delegates from both sides signed an agreement on a "permanent cessation of hostilities".
“Mr President, I hereby, in terms of Rule 61, give the following notice of motion: This House – notes the recent positive development which resulted in the signing of a peace agreement between the Federal Republic of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front in the AU’s facilitated mediation process in Pretoria, Republic of South Africa, on 03 November 2022,” said Hon. Ogong, noted with great appreciation that representatives from both sides of Ethiopia’s war agreed to a permanent cessation of hostilities, the disarmament of fighters, the unhindered humanitarian access to Tigray, the repairing of essential services in the region, the provision of a framework for accountability and justice, and the restoration of some semblance of stability in the country.
Hon. Ogong, also called upon all parties involved to respect and abide by this agreement for the betterment of the citizens of Ethiopia and the African Continent as a whole.
While commenting on the motion PAP legislators urged Africa to unite as a way of defeating detractors who are keen on looting a divided Africa. The legislators who commended Ethiopians also mentioned that Ethiopia represents the heart of Africa as it is the only nation that defeated marauding imperialists.
They also underscored that an attack on Ethiopia, West Africa and Mozambique spells gloom and non-progress for Africa. The African legislators also urged the warring parties to commit to their agreements to avoid the recurrence of violence that is taking Africa backwards, uprooting and destroying millions of lives.
Chaired by H.E Hon. Chief Fortune Charumbira the Plenary sitting is held under the African Union theme for 2022, “Building resilience in nutrition on the African continent: Accelerate the human capital, social and economic development”.
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