It has been a year since the signing of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement by the Government of Ethiopia and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The courageous commitment to peace demonstrated by all parties at the time should remain unabated. Continued support by the African Union for the Pretoria agreement is needed.

Our first thoughts on that day go to the hundreds of thousands of people that were killed during this brutal war. We will not forget them, as we are not forgetting the many survivors that struggle to rebuild their lives.*

In April 2023, the EU agreed on a gradual normalisation of EU-Ethiopia relations, based on a sustained implementation of the Cessation of Hostilities Agreement. The EU reiterates that further progress on accountability and justice is decisive for such a normalisation. The Government of Ethiopia must ensure that the future policy meets regional and international human rights standards. This includes the establishment of robust independent, impartial and transparent mechanisms to implement the transitional justice policy, preserve evidence, conduct investigations into all allegations of human rights violations and abuses, and violations of international humanitarian law, and prosecute those responsible.

A local structured dialogue with the Government of Ethiopia is also key to move on the normalisation of relations and for the implementation of the Multi-annual Indicative Plan.

For the National Dialogue and Transitional Justice process to have any chance of success, a conducive environment across the country is paramount. Therefore, the EU reiterates to all parties its concerns with the various on-going conflicts in the country, the State of Emergency, as well as continued reports of various kinds of human rights violations. We call again for the protection of civilians, cessation of hostilities and a start of political settlements, as well as an inclusive dialogue.

*Updated on 02/11/2023 at 18:50