Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed today made a direct appeal for a shift from conflict to co-development in the Tigray region, warning against any renewed attempts to seize power by force. "We do not want further fighting in the Tigray region. Instead, we want to develop the country together," the prime minister stated, adding that "any attempt to overthrow the government by force will never succeed."
Highlighting a crucial budget concern, he stressed the need to reprioritize funding: "Currently, the federal government’s budget for the Tigray region is being diverted to insurgency rather than development, which is not right. Tigray needs development. Therefore, we must work together peacefully to achieve progress in the region."
The Prime Minister's appeal for a transition to peace and stability is anchored in the core provisions of the Pretoria Peace Agreement, which sets out the following steps for normalizing the region's governance and security landscape:
- Political Legitimacy: The election held by the TPLF was annulled, deemed illegitimate, necessitating the dissolution of the regional administration and council established through that process.
- Interim Governance: The establishment of an interim administration composed of all relevant parties in the region is mandated.
- Constitutional Order: The agreement requires respect for the federal system of government elected by the people.
- Security and Disarmament: It calls for the disarmament of armed forces operating in the region and their reintegration into normal life through rehabilitation.
- Reconstruction: Key provisions include the restoration of interrupted services and the return of displaced citizens.
- Sovereignty: The agreement reinforces the recognition that only the federal government has the authority to conduct any foreign relations.
The prime minister's remarks link the federal government’s commitment to these provisions with the urgent need to shift resources away from conflict and toward the development priorities outlined in the peace deal.
