The government of Ethiopia's Amhara region has signed a "sustainable peace agreement"with the Amhara Fano Peoples Organization (AFaHD), in a move officials hope will bring stability to the region.
The accord was signed by the Amhara Regional President, Arega Kebede, and Captain Masresha Sete, a senior leader of the AFaHD, following negotiations mediated by regional bodies.
Speaking after the signing ceremony, President Arega Kebede hailed the agreement as a crucial step toward restoring order, emphasizing that the deal benefits the government, the public, and the armed combatants alike.
Arega issued a direct appeal to other factions who "choose the gun over dialogue,"stating that his administration is prepared to resolve all grievances through negotiation.
"The public has long been demanding that militants return to the path of peace,"the President said, describing the agreement as a source of "great relief"for the region. He further instructed regional government structures to immediately align their operations with the government's new peace trajectory.
Representing the AFaHD, Captain Masresha Sete asserted that dialogue remains the ultimate resolution to the conflict.
He urged other fighters currently "in the bush "to follow this example and resolve their differences through discussion. However, he also issued a warning regarding external alliances, stating that relationships with "foreign entities and historical enemies"are destructive.
The ceremony was attended by high-level diplomats, including African Union (AU) Commission Deputy Commissioner Selma Hadid, who stated that the agreement "opens the door to peace"for other armed groups.
Mohamed Abdi Beri, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), described the decision by both parties as "historic and brave,"calling on remaining armed groups to join the peace process.
Reports indicate that the agreement is the result of sustained negotiations mediated by the AU and IGAD. Officials at the ceremony framed the successful accord as a testament to the principle of finding "African solutions to African problems."
