Hassan Isilow
04 November 2022•Update: 04 November 2022
JOHANNESBURG
The Ethiopian community in South Africa welcomed news Thursday of the signing of an agreement to end hostilities between their government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF).
“I am very happy with the outcomes of the peace negotiations. I hope peace will now bring development and stability to my country,’’ Ethiopian businessman based in Johannesburg, Suleiman Hussein, told Anadolu Agency.
He commended African Union facilitators and the South African government for hosting talks and said the war was not good for Ethiopia.
Peace talks between the government and Tigray rebels bore fruit Wednesday as the two warring sides agreed to a new cease-fire deal, in talks hosted in the South African capital of Pretoria.
The two-year civil war that has killed thousands and displaced millions will likely end if parties respect the deal.
“The outcome of the peace negotiations in Pretoria was the best for Ethiopia, Africa and the world. War will never solve any problem for any country,’’ another Ethiopian businessman, Muzeyah Ntulu, told the Turkish news agency.
Olusegun Obasanjo, the high representative of the chairperson of the African Union Commission, announced the outcome of the peace, describing the outcome as a new dawn.
“Today is the beginning of a new dawn for Ethiopia, for the Horn of Africa and indeed for Africa as a whole. Let me hasten to thank God for this new dawn,” the former Nigeria president said Wednesday. “We are seeing in practice and actualization what we have tried to achieve for ourselves over the years – African solutions for African problems. We also see in today’s peace agreement signing exercise the implementation of Agenda 2063 which embodies silencing the guns in Africa.”
An Ethiopian national who identified himself as Jonas, said: “This news has made me homesick. I wish I was in Ethiopia to celebrate in my country. This is very good news. We are one people, all Ethiopians, why should we kill one another?’’
Elizabeth Damos was equally happy and thanked South Africa for hosting talks that began Oct. 25.
South Africa has a very large Ethiopian migrant community involved in different sectors of the economy.
South Africa welcomed the deal in a statement Thursday that said it is honored to have been the host for the talks and will continue to work with all parties to ensure that peace is maintained in Ethiopia.
It said the agreement signals a commitment to ending the use of force to settle differences and disputes and confirms the correctness of South Africa’s principled position that political differences are best resolved through meaningful dialogue and diplomacy.
“The message is clear: there are no winners in wars, and wars do no not solve problems. Invariably, the underlying reasons for conflicts will persist unless they are resolved through dialogue. The use of force only serves to destroy lives, livelihoods, infrastructure and prolongs human suffering,” it added.
