Ethiopia peace deal hailed as a ‘new dawn’

World and regional leaders welcome the peace agreement, stressing this is the first step to end the bloody war. Regional and world leaders have hailed the peace agreement between Ethiopia’s government and Tigray rebels, raising hopes for an end to two years of brutal conflict marked by atrocities, including killings, gang rapes and starvation. Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, the African Union mediator, said the agreement signed on Wednesday in South Africa marked a new “dawn” for Ethiopia. “The war over the last two years has claimed the lives of hundreds of thousands and has turned Ethiopia, once on the cusp of great economic progress, into a bad parody of itself and caused tremendous suffering to the people of Tigray.” Ned Price, US Department of State spokesman “The African Union’s announcement of the signing of a cessation of hostilities between the government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front represents an important step towards peace.” Stephane Dujarric, United Nations spokesman “It is very much a welcome first step, which we hope can start to bring some solace to the millions of Ethiopian civilians that have really suffered during this conflict.” Josep Borrell, EU foreign policy chief “Further negotiations are encouraged to reach a permanent ceasefire agreement and launch broader political talks.” James Cleverly, British foreign secretary “Welcome important agreement between the Ethiopian Government and Tigrayan authorities to end the terrible conflict in northern Ethiopia. Ensuring the agreement’s implementation, including the departure of Eritrean forces, whose government was not part of the negotiations, is critical.” Uhuru Kenyatta, former president of Kenya, facilitator of the talks “The lasting solution can only be through political engagement and being able to accommodate our differences, our diversity, while still remaining a united Ethiopia.