Ethiopian PM to address regional security concerns
ADDIS ABABA - Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed said the country’s government is undertaking various efforts to peacefully address local and regional peace and security concerns.
The prime minister made the remark Tuesday while presenting his government’s six-month performance report to the House of Peoples’ Representatives (HoPR), the lower house of the Ethiopian parliament, involving peace and security, economic and social matters.
Responding to questions from members of the parliament regarding peace and security issues along Ethiopia’s border areas with
Sudan and South Sudan, Ahmed said his government is closely working with the governments of the two countries to address border issues through dialogue.
Noting that the issue with Sudan is mainly attributed to a lack of proper border demarcation, Ahmed said the two countries have already established a joint ministerial committee to oversee the matter.
Regarding peace and security situations across the East African country, the prime minister underscored his government’s readiness and commitment to addressing all underlying threats in a peaceful manner through dialogue and peaceful ways.
Ahmed, in particular, disclosed ongoing efforts to peacefully resolve the brutal conflict with the armed rebel group Oromo Liberation Army (OLA), also known as Shane.
He said the conflict in the western part of Ethiopia’s Oromia region has displaced people and brought general misery to many people while also affecting development activities in the region.
He also disclosed the ruling Prosperity Party has formed a committee to oversee possible peace efforts with the rebel group, which was designated as a terrorist organisation by the Ethiopian parliament in May 2021.
The decision to peacefully address ongoing conflicts in different parts of Ethiopia is said to be part of the government’s commitment to bringing a durable solution through dialogue with armed rebel groups.
On 2 November 2022, the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front signed a cessation of hostilities agreement to end the conflict in the country’s northern region.
The peace efforts came on the backdrop of a two-year brutal conflict that left tens of thousands dead and millions more in need of urgent humanitarian assistance.