Sharjah24 - AFP: Beginning on Tuesday in South Africa, the first official peace negotiations between the warring parties in the violent two-year battle in Ethiopia's Tigray region.
The consultations in Pretoria, led by the African Union (AU), come after a recent escalation in hostilities that has startled the international community and raised concerns for civilians caught in the crossfire.
According to Vincent Magwenya, a spokesman for South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, they "have been summoned to find a peaceful and sustainable solution to the tragic conflict," and they will continue through October 30.
"The discussions will progress constructively and result in a satisfactory outcome that leads to peace for all the people of our loving sister country," South Africa hopes, he said.
Nearly two months to the day after fighting broke out again, shattering a five-month cease-fire, the negotiation process between representatives of Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed's government in Ethiopia and the local authorities in war-torn Tigray began.
The return of Eritrean forces to the battle has sparked concerns of additional atrocities against civilians. The international community has been pressing for an immediate ceasefire, humanitarian access to Tigray where many people are starving, and a withdrawal of Eritrean forces.
According to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, "there is no military solution to this war, and these talks represent the most hopeful route to create lasting peace and prosperity for all Ethiopians."
Former Nigerian president and AU Horn of Africa ambassador Olusegun Obasanjo, along with former leaders of Kenya and South Africa, Uhuru Kenyatta and Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, are facilitating the discussion. US envoy Mike Hammer is also present.
Moussa Faki Mahamat, chair of the AU Commission, hailed the beginning of the much anticipated procedure.
He emphasized the AU's ongoing support for a procedure "to silence the guns towards a united, stable, peaceful, and resilient Ethiopia," saying he was "encouraged by the early evidence of commitment to peace by the parties."
In light of the "extremely alarming" humanitarian situation, Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, pleaded with the rivals to take advantage of the chance for peace.
He urged reporters in Nairobi, "Please government, please TPLF, for the sake of your own people, come to a constructive conclusion or at least open up a path for peace."
The rebel Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF) and the Ethiopian government have not yet responded.
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