The Foreign Ministers of France, Catherine Colonna, and Germany, Annalena Baerbock, called for justice for the victims of the war in northern Ethiopia on Thursday (12.01.2023) with the aim of ensuring harmony in the region after the signing of the November Peace Pact.
“Catherine Colonna and I encourage Ethiopia to continue on its path toward peace and to hold human rights abusers accountable. Without justice, lasting peace is impossible,” Baerbock said yesterday via the social network Twitter.
“Ethiopia’s voice carries weight in Africa and the rest of the world. And this country has launched some important reforms. But in the last two years, terrible news has also reached us from Ethiopia,” said the German minister, referring to the war that devastated the northern Ethiopian region of Tigré from November 2020 until a peace agreement was signed last November.
Both ministers complained that “women were victims of systematic sexual violence” and “humanitarian workers were targeted” during the conflict.
For his part, Colonna stressed that “the association between Europe and Ethiopia is a priority”, recalling that the European Union (EU), France and Germany will continue to support “the peace process”.
“I believe we must be united and show our solidarity with the Ethiopians. The first objective of this visit to Ethiopia is to support the peace process, which has also allowed humanitarian aid to reach the war-affected people,” he added.
The ministers were received this Thursday by Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, who claimed to have had “deep and fruitful talks that reflect the solid relations Ethiopia has with France and Germany”.
Likewise, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonen reiterated his country’s commitment to “fully” implement the peace deal with the Tigrinya rebels.
The war began on November 4, 2020, when Abiy ordered an offensive against the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) – the region’s ruling party – in response to an attack on a federal military base and following an escalation in tensions.
Before the pact between the two parties last November, the UN had denounced a “de facto humanitarian blockade” in Tigre since the beginning of the war.
But the region has seen a gradual return of humanitarian aid, the restoration of commercial flights, electricity and banking operations in recent months, as stipulated in the peace accord.
In addition, the PFLT assured this Tuesday that they had handed over their heavy weapons.
PC (efe, dpa)