Former Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo, who is the AU’s special representative for the Horn of Africa, has said that he has not faced any resistance in his efforts to mediate between the Ethiopian federal government and rebel groups, he told the BBC.
Speaking from Addis Ababa, where he arrived Thursday, Obasanjo said he has met separately with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed and leaders of the Tigrayan People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) and everybody has come around to accept that the African Union’s effort at appointing a higher representative for the Horn of Africa to promote peace, security, stability, and political dialogue.
Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed “has given me every attention that I have asked for. He treated me with utmost courtesy,” he said, adding that when he traveled to Mekelle, he was received at the airport by the TPLF leader. “He received me the way I would be received by an African leader.”
The claim that both sides are rejecting the mediation efforts is “absolutely wrong,” he said.
Asked where that led to the negotiation and what would happen next, Obasanjo said: ” You should wait until I get to the point where I can report on how far I am going. Phase one I am trying to find out the issues of importance to different groups.”
The Ethiopian government said it is waiting for a solution from Obasanjo.
TPLF spokesman Getachew Reda on his part tweeted that the African Union Special Envoy for the Horn of Africa “had very frutitful discussion with President Debretsion of Tigray.”
Speaking during the BBC’s Focus on Africa interview, Obasanjo said his efforts at mediation were so well received “Everybody is saying we appreciate that you were appointed. We know that this is the way to go. We want somebody who is an honest broker who can help us in this. We can not get anybody better than you,” he said.
It is a jock when one reads on the front page “US is trying to avert Civil War in Ethiopia”- and “Many dying of Hunger in Wag…”. For too long, Ethiopians understand the US playing as usual the role of playing a game keeper when it is in fact the real poacher in this bloody business. Let people try to iron out their differences in their own ways. As Mr. Olusegun Obsanjo, the role of a ghetto pimp doesn’t fit well at a time when his own country is on the verge of civil war, where Eastern and Northern Nigeria don’t want to be part of the outdated British federal arrangement. If Mr. Obsanjo is a real States man he should solve the long standing problem in Lagos, Nigeria, rather than being a “black face” for malevolent agenda of the Imperialists. Please hand off Ethiopia.
“No one has rejected my mediation attempts” may not mean either parties will commit to the details. Let us remember America is behind this “mediation” thingy. And hardly anyone takes American mediation seriously these days. That is why America prefers to bulldoze through basic etiquette dealing with respect for sovereignty of a country and staying out when it is not asked to intervene.
The idea of mediation is of course a way to legitimize Tplf and grant it a breathing space from near collapse. America is out to save a terrorist group. Got that? Remember Al Qaeda? Taliban?
“either party”, not “parties.” Apologies.
Apologies accepted. Ethiopia Observer is not unduly concerned about editing. It follows Theodor w. Adorno’s line, ” We cannot get rid of god that is why we still belive in Grammer. No pun is Intented. Cheers.