The United States appears frustrated in the Ethiopia-Tigray conflict, with Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa Mike Hammer returning to Washington without much headway.
Ambassador Hammer arrived in Ethiopia on September 5 to encourage efforts for an immediate stop to the fighting and participation by the government of Ethiopia and the Tigrayan regional authorities in African Union-led peace talks. He succeeded Ambassador David Satterfield, who resigned just three months after his appointment in January. Satterfield had replaced veteran US diplomat Jeffrey Feltman, who served in the position for less than a year.
In these efforts, Special Envoy Hammer met with various leaders, among them Ethiopian government officials, AU representatives, and international partners on next steps forward.
Hammer met with his counterparts the UN Special Representative to the Secretary General Hanna Tetteh and EU SEHOA Annette Weber, as well as other international partners.
He, however, returned to Washington September 16, where the US State Department said he will continue diplomatic efforts on the margins of the UN General Assembly in New York during high-level week beginning September 19.
“During his visit to Ethiopia, Special Envoy Hammer met with the AU’s High Representative Olusegun Obasanjo on several occasions to discuss how the United States can partner to support the peace process,” the State Department said in a statement.
It added that Assistant Secretary Molly Phee, who attended the inauguration of Kenyan President William Ruto in Nairobi, also advanced diplomatic efforts aimed at getting AU-led talks launched in pursuit of peace.
While the Government of Ethiopia and Tigray leaders have expressed readiness to participate in talks, there has not been much progress, particularly in regards to the African Union-led process.
Tigray is skeptical about AU’s neutrality over the “proximity” of Obasanjo, AU’s special envoy to the Horn of Africa, to Ethiopia Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. Tigtay prefer Kenya to the AU, particularly under retired Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was appointed by President Ruto to led-regional peace initiatives, including that in Ethiopia.
Addis Ababa, on its part, has called for unconditional talks “anytime, anywhere,” but requested that it should be brokered by the African Union.
“Based on these commitments, the United States seeks tangible follow through from all parties to the conflict to enter into negotiations in good faith,” the US said.
However, an agreement on a cessation of hostilities, to be followed by finalizing a comprehensive negotiated ceasefire, and an all-inclusive political dialogue to resolve issues underlying the current conflict is yet to be reached.
Hammer and Chargé d’Affaires ad interim Tracey Ann Jacobson at the U.S. Embassy in Addis Ababa met with Prime Minister Abiy and with Deputy Prime Minister/Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen to discuss US concerns about the renewed fighting in the north of Ethiopia and Eritrea’s re-entry into the conflict.
They also discussed “the urgent need” to redouble efforts to begin AU-led talks aimed at bringing a permanent end to the conflict.
“During his meetings with Ethiopian government officials as well as with Tigrayan regional authorities Special Envoy Hammer reiterated the need for unhindered humanitarian access in the Tigray, Afar, and Amhara regions, stressed the need to respect human rights and avoid civilian casualties, raised ongoing reports of ethnically-based detentions, and pressed for accountability for those responsible for atrocities and justice for the victims and survivors,” the State Department said.
In an article in The Star newspaper, Ethiopia Embassy in Nairobi said he TPLF “downright lacks tangible political agenda that could otherwise have been resolved through negotiations”.
“The TPLF fanatically sticks to its antiquated dictate that “If I can’t rule Ethiopia, it needs to be dismantled right away!” Both stale arguments fall short of serving as justifications for declaring war on an entire nation,” the mission, which is led by Gen Bacha Debele, a military general who has been the face of the war against the TPLF, said.
It went on to say that while the Ethiopian government is tirelessly working to bring about a negotiated settlement under the umbrella of the African Union, the TPLF is busy frustrating the peace process by presenting two inadmissible preconditions:
“One, its claims on the return of Raya and Wolkayit to Tigray region and two, the provision of basic utilities by the government,” it explained.
But UN investigators on Monday said they believed Ethiopia’s government was behind ongoing crimes against humanity in Tigray, and warned the resumption of the conflict there increased the risk of “further atrocity crimes”
The Commission of Human Rights Experts on Ethiopia said it had found evidence of widespread violations by all sides since fighting erupted in the northern Tigray region in November 2020, adding that it had “reasonable grounds to believe, in several instances, these violations amount to war crimes and crimes against humanity”.
The crimes include extrajudicial killings, intentional starvation and rape and sexual violence perpetrated on a “staggering scale”.
Despite these challenges, the United States says it is committed to the unity, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of Ethiopia and seeks peace and stability for the benefit of all Ethiopians.
Former ambassador to DRC Mike Hammer named US Special Envoy for Horn of Africa
