AU-sponsored peace talks between Ethiopia, Tigrayan rebels postponed

Diplomats have said that African Union-sponsored peace talks between Ethiopia’s federal government and Tigrayan rebels which had been planned for the weekend of October 8, 2022 were delayed due to logistical problems.

AU Commission Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat had invited the leaders of the warring parties to attend a summit in South Africa, according to a leaked letter.

The talks were due to be mediated by AU special envoy Olusegun Obasanjo, alongside former South African deputy president Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka and former Kenyan president Uhuru Kenyatta.

It was reported earlier that Ethiopia’s federal government had accepted the invitation. The Tigray rebels said they were “ready” to attend but sought “clarification” on logistics, security arrangements and the role of international observers.

Diplomatic sources said that the talks were pushed back while logistics and other issues concerning the structure of the talks were hammered out.

A five-month cease-fire between the government and rebel Tigray People’s Liberation Front broke down in August.